Moral Intelligence: Concept, Paradigm, and Psychometric Challenges in the Security and Defense Sector
Abstract
Abstract. The article presents a theoretical and analytical study of the phenomenon of moral intelligence as a promising construct in contemporary applied psychology. The purpose of the publication is to introduce the category of moral intelligence into the Ukrainian psychological discourse, with a focus on the security and defense sector. In modern international literature, moral intelligence is interpreted as the ability to make decisions based on ethical principles, internal values, and self-reflection. This construct is viewed through the lens of integrating cognitive, emotional, and behavioral components of morality. However, debates persist regarding its theoretical autonomy from personality traits (such as integrity, responsibility, and conscientiousness) and moral reasoning. In this study, moral intelligence is defined as an integrative psychological capacity of the individual to recognize, interpret, and regulate their behavior in accordance with internal ethical standards, to make moral choices in complex situations, and to take responsibility for the consequences of those decisions. Special attention is paid to the role of moral intelligence in high-risk professions, where it functions as a mechanism of ethical self-regulation and a factor of stress resilience. The paper also explores the relationship between moral intelligence and the phenomenon of moral injury, which is common among military personnel and veterans due to violations of internal moral beliefs in combat or crisis situations. A critical analysis of existing diagnostic approaches to measuring moral intelligence is conducted, revealing the need to develop psychometrically sound and culturally adapted tools capable of assessing the level of moral competence among security personnel in wartime and post-war recovery contexts. Theoretical conclusions obtained may serve as a foundation for the development of a valid psychodiagnostic instrument for moral intelligence, relevant to the needs of military psychology and security practice.
Keywords: moral intelligence; ethical standards; integrity; moral choice; moral competence; wartime context; moral behavior; moral injury; security and defense sector; veterans; combat and crisis situations; stress resilience.
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