PhD Defence Lisanne Versteegt

Abstract

Moral questions do not just emerge in rare, dramatic moments; they crop up regularly in our daily lives. From choosing whether to follow public health guidelines during a pandemic to navigating ethical dilemmas at work, what we consider moral or immoral influences our behavior every day. This dissertation explores moral self-regulation, which refers to the process by which individuals align their actions with their moral standards across different real-world situations. With its goal to bridge the gap between theoretical models of moral decision-making and practical, real-world implications, this dissertation examines how people navigate moral self-regulation during a public health crisis and in the workplace. 
Chapter 2 explores how individuals’ moral standards shifted during the COVID-19 pandemic and how these shifts relate to health behaviors, focusing particularly on physical distancing. Chapter 3 examines the role of moral identity in workplace behavior, discussing how some individuals may act in ways that benefit their organization, even if those actions conflict with societal ethical standards. Chapter 4 discusses the impact of organizational injustice on employee wellbeing and explores how job autonomy might play a role in buffering its effects. 
Together, the findings in this dissertation offer insights into how moral self-regulation operates in everyday life, with implications for both individuals and organizations.