fei75766_ch17_534-568.indd 554  02/24/20 10:49 AM
Part VI    Learning-Cognitive Theories554
consistent values. Bandura (2002a) insists thatmoral precepts predict moral behav -
ioronlywhen those precepts areconverted toaction. Inother words, self-regulatory 
influences arenotautomatic butoperate onlyiftheyareactivated, aconcept Bandura 
callsselective activation. 
Howcanpeople withstrong moral beliefs concerning theworth anddignity ofall
humankind behave inaninhumane manner toother humans? Bandura’s (1994) answer 
isthat“people donotordinarily engage inreprehensible conduct untiltheyhavejustified 
tothemselves themorality oftheiractions” (p.72).Byjustifying themorality oftheir
actions, theycanseparate ordisengage themselves fromtheconsequences oftheirbehav -
ior,aconcept Bandura callsdisengagement of internal control .
Disengagement techniques allow people, individually orworking inconcert 
withothers, toengage ininhumane behaviors while retaining theirmoral standards 
(Bandura, 2002a). Forexample, politicians frequently convince theirconstituents of
themorality ofwar.Thus, warsarefought against “evil” people, people whodeserve 
tobedefeated orevenannihilated.
Selective activation anddisengagement ofinternal control allow people withthe
same moral standards tobehave quite differently, justastheypermit thesame person to
behave differently indifferent situations. Figure 17.2illustrates thevarious mechanisms 
through which self-control isdisengaged orselectively activated. First, people canrede-
fine or reconstruct the nature of the behavior itself bysuchtechniques asmorally justifying 
it,making advantageous comparisons, oreuphemistically labeling theiractions. Second, 
theycanminimize, ignore, or distort  the detrimental consequences of their behavior. Third, 
theycanblame or dehumanize the victim. Fourth, theycandisplace or diffuse responsibility 
fortheirbehavior byobscuring therelationship between theiractions andtheeffects of
those actions. 
Redefine the Behavior
With redefinition of behavior, people justify otherwise reprehensible actions byacog-
nitive restructuring thatallows them tominimize orescape responsibility. They can
relieve themselves ofresponsibility fortheirbehavior byatleastthree techniques (see
upper-left boxinFigure 17.2).Reprehensible
conductDetrimental
eﬀectsVictimMoral justiﬁcation
Palliative comparison
Euphemistic labeling
Displacement of responsibility
Diﬀusion of responsibilityMinimizing, ignoring,
or misconstruing
the consequencesDehumanization
Attribution of blame
FIGURE 17.2  Mechanisms through which internal control is selectively activated or 
disengaged from reprehensible conduct at different points in the regulatory process.Final PDF to printer