EARLY EXPERIENCES AND SADISTIC TENDENCIES AS PREDICTORS OF MORAL DISENGAGEMENT IN YOUNG ADULTS

Abstract

The current paper has investigated the predictive roles of early experiences and sadistic tendencies in the explanation of moral disengagement in young adults in Pakistan. A  purposive sample of 352 university students (aged 18-25 years) participated in this correlational research design. The participants completed the measures of the Early Life Experiences Scale (ELES), Sadism Scale in University Students (SSUS) and the Moral Disengagement Scale in Adults (MDS-A). Correlation analyses demonstrated significant positive relationships between early adverse experiences, sadistic behaviors and moral disengagement. Hierarchical regression analysis indicated that early submissiveness appeared  a significant predictor of moral disengagement, whereas sadistic denigration emerged as a strong predictor, explaining the greatest percentage of variance. These results underscore the developmental significance of early relational events and the combined effect of sadistic tendencies in fostering the cognitive processes that justify harmful and immoral activities. The research bridges an empirical gap by incorporating developmental and personality factors as predictors of moral disengagement within a South Asian cultural context and emphasizes the necessity of developing the prevention and interventions strategies targeting young adults.