Toward a Spectrum of Moral Harm: A New Paradigm

Authors

David Gosling
Collen Grunhaus
Daniel Gutierrez, William & MaryFollow

Document Type

Article

Department/Program

Education

Department

Education

Journal Title

Journal of Ethics in Mental Health

Pub Date

7-2019

Volume

10

First Page

1

Abstract

Moral harm is the pain, anguish, or trauma experienced as a result of violations to one’s value system. Researchers have analyzed the experience of moral harm through the lenses of moral injury among military personnel, and moral distress among helping professionals. Although both fields of research share similar frames of reference, the current project is the first known work to conceptualize moral injury and moral distress within the same theoretical model. The authors posit that moral injury and moral distress are experiences along a spectrum; both struggle and recovery can be understood within this context. Implications for ethical practice and future research are discussed.

Recommended Citation

Gosling, David; Grunhaus, Collen; and Gutierrez, Daniel, Toward a Spectrum of Moral Harm: A New Paradigm (2019). Journal of Ethics in Mental Health, 10, 1-11.
https://scholarworks.wm.edu/aspubs/1908