Types of decorations, their social meaning and influence on moral injury: A mixed methods approach.

ABSTRACT: Research on moral injury has thus far paid little attention to social factors and cultural elements. This study addresses this gap by examining the effects of one particular cultural artefact on moral injury that is typical of armed forces, (military) decorations, including awards and medals. Through a preregistered experiment involving two scenarios-omission of helping behavior and commission of mortar fire-resulting in civilian deaths, we manipulated the factors self-attribution versus attribution of blame to others/the system and the presence or absence of a decoration. Moreover, we conducted seven qualitative interviews. Contrary to our expectations, none of the experimental conditions within the scenarios yielded significant differences. However, the scenarios themselves differed sign

SUBMITTER: Lathouwers R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12558466 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature