Moral Disengagement as Determinant of Relational Aggression Among Adolescents

Abstract

The present study aimed at finding the predictive relationship between moral disengagement and
relational aggression among adolescents. Sample of 612 adolescent students aged from 12-19 years
was collected from different schools and colleges of district Gujrat, Pakistan. Two scales; Moral
disengagement scale for Adolescents by Riaz & Bano(2018) and Urdu version of diverse adolescent
relational aggression Riaz (2014) were used for measuring variables. The findings of the present
study revealed significant predictive relation of moral disengagement with relational aggression [R2
=0.327; F (1,607) = 295.362, p<0.01]; diffusion and displacement of responsibility, sub dimension
with relational aggression [R2 =0.182; F (1, 608) = 135.060, p<0.01]; advantageous comparison
with relational aggression [R2 =0.135; F (1, 608) = 94.823-, p<0.01]; dehumanization with
relational aggression [R2 =0.199; F (1, 608) = 151.106, p<0.01]; attribution of blame with relational
aggression [R2 =0.134; F (1, 608) = 94.374, p<0.01], moral justification with relational aggression
[R2 =0.110; F (1, 608) = 75.088, p<0.01] and euphemistic labeling with relational aggression [R2
=0.054; F (1, 609) = 34.742, p<0.01] .The present study supported the predictive relationship of
moral disengagement with relational aggression among adolescents.