Moral Competence and Self-Control: The Moderating Role of Personality Traits

Abstract

Using the virtue approach of moral competence and the strength model of self-control, the study aims to discover how effective self-control is linked with moral competence. Additionally, we analyze HEXACO personality traits as a potential moderator of the proposed relationship. Participants (n = 319; 76.5% female), with a mean age of 22.75 years (SD = 3.64) completed the questionnaires aimed at measuring the HEXACO personality traits – Self-Control and Moral Competence. Results show self-control and moral competence are strongly and positively associated; therefore, self-control significantly predicts moral competence. Moreover, the effect of self-control on moral competence is most apparent when the specific impact of personality traits is considered. Specifically, Conscientiousness and Humility moderate the relationship between self-control and moral competence. Guided by the perspective of positive psychology, the study extends previous empirical research and theoretical conceptualizations of the relationship between two major areas of psychology – morality, and self-control – by placing a special focus on personality traits.