Jennylyn Plaza Pagaduan August 21, 2023

BSED - ENGLISH 2 ED7-EDA

ARTICLE CRITIQUE

“Moral Recovery and Ethical Leadership”

Introduction:

Ethical leadership is a complex and multifaceted concept that has been the subject of much
research in recent years. However, there is still much that we do not know about how to be an
ethical leader. This paper explores the concept of moral recovery as a way to understand how
leaders can overcome moral failures and become more ethical in their leadership. The paper
begins by reviewing the research on ethical leadership. It then discusses the concept of
moral injury, which is a form of psychological trauma that can occur when someone violates
their own moral code. The paper then introduces the concept of moral recovery, which is a
process of healing from moral injury.

One of the early studies on ethical leadership by Brown and Trevino (2006) compared ethical
leadership to related approaches such as spiritual, transformative, and authentic leadership.
They identified two main sources of ethical leadership: situational antecedents and
individual characteristics. Their research agenda called for further exploration of moral traits
and practices, as well as the ethical behaviors of leaders, followers, and the context in which
they work. Bedi et al (2016) conducted a meta-analysis of the literature on the outcomes of
ethical leadership from the perspective of social learning and social exchange theory. They
found positive relationships between ethical leadership and various attitudes and behaviors.

In contrast to ethical leadership, toxic or destructive leadership has been primarily studied
from a positivistic perspective, aiming to identify certain traits, behaviors, and personality
types associated with negative outcomes. Studies on toxic leadership often examine the
reasons why individuals feel compelled to follow such leaders.

Summary

The traditional view of ethical leadership is that it is characterized by positive emotions such
as happiness, optimism, and hope. However, some scholars argue that leaders who
experience negative emotions such as fear, anxiety, and anger can also be ethical leaders.
They argue that these negative emotions can motivate leaders to challenge the status quo
and make positive changes.
Moral injury can lead to feelings of guilt, shame, and anger, which can be debilitating and
long-lasting. However, it is possible for people to recover from moral injury through a process
of moral repair. This process involves acknowledging the wrongdoing and taking
responsibility for it. In short, negative emotions can be a catalyst for ethical leadership, and
that moral injury can be a wake-up call that motivates leaders to make positive changes.
Moral Injuries result from feelings of guilt and shame that arise after one has transgressed
one’s ethical norms. The impact of Moral Injury on the character of the person experiencing it
is a key difference between Moral Injury and other forms of psychological trauma.

Moral injury is a psychological trauma that can occur when someone violates their own
deeply held moral values. This can happen to anyone, including military personnel, civilians,
and even business leaders. Moral injury can lead to a variety of symptoms, including guilt,
shame, anger, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). There is no one-size-fits-all
treatment for moral injury, but some effective approaches include therapy, medication, and
community support. Recovery from moral injury is a process, and it takes time and effort.
However, it is possible to heal from moral injury and rebuild a meaningful life.

Critique

The article provides an interesting discussion on the concept of Moral Injury and its impact
on individuals who violate their own ethical codes. The author uses examples from various
sources to illustrate the concept and its effects on character.

The article argues that moral injury can lead to a loss of meaning and purpose, and that
recovery from moral injury requires restoring this meaning and purpose. It does a good job of
defining moral injury and explaining its causes and effects. However, it does not provide
much detail on the process of moral recovery. It simply states that moral recovery is possible
when individuals work to create systems or organizational processes that help address the
causes or source of their moral injury.

The article raises an important question about the impact of recovering from Moral Injury on
a broader system. It suggests that individuals who have experienced Moral Injury and engage
in the process of Moral Recovery can initiate responsible organizational change. This
perspective expands the literature on Moral Injury beyond the military context and offers
insights into ethical leadership. A more in-depth exploration of the existing literature,
including studies on Moral Injury in different contexts such as police work, civilians, and
healthcare workers strengthens the argument and provides a more nuanced understanding
of the subject.

Additionally, the article mentions the example of Ray Anderson and his experience of Moral
Injury in the context of his business, Interface Ltd. While this example provides some insight
into the potential for personal transformation and responsible business practices, it relies
solely on secondary research materials.
Conclusion

In conclusion, the article explores the concept of Moral Injury and its potential impact on
individuals and organizations. It highlights the experiences of individuals such as Ray
Anderson and Stieg Larsson, who suffered Moral Injuries and underwent Moral Recovery.
However, the article acknowledges the difficulties in studying and understanding Moral
Injury in organizational contexts. It notes the limited availability of cases and the challenges
of accessing data from individuals who have experienced Moral Injury. The article suggests
that analyzing experiences such as whistleblowing and examining the impact of collective
moral injuries, such as those caused by political events, could provide insights into Moral
Recovery.

Moral injury is a relatively new concept that has been studied mostly in the context of
military veterans. However, it is also relevant to the workplace, where employees may
experience moral injury as a result of witnessing unethical behavior. Therefore, to prevent
moral injury is to create a workplace culture that values ethics and integrity. This can be
done by establishing clear ethical standards and providing training on ethics. If an employee
does experience moral injury, it is important to provide them with support and resources to
help them recover. This may include counseling, peer support groups, or opportunities to
engage in prosocial activities.

Overall, the author of the passage proposes that genuine ethical leadership can commence
following the distressful realization that one has violated, or has been responsible for, the
violation of moral frameworks that were previously hidden from oneself or others. This
suggests that moral injury can be a catalyst for positive change, if it is properly addressed.