THE MEDIATING ROLE OF COGNITIVE FLEXIBILITY İN THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ALTRUISM AND MORAL VALUES OF CHILD DEVELOPMENT STUDENTS

Abstract

ABSTRACT Aim: The aim of this study is to examine the mediating role of cognitive flexibility in the relationship between university students moral values and altruism. In this context, the effects of "alternative" and "control" variables, which are sub-dimensions of cognitive flexibility, on this relationship were evaluated. Altruism, moral values, and cognitive flexibility play an important role in individuals' social and ethical decisions. This research aims to contribute to the professional development of child development students by examining these characteristics. The limited number of studies on the relationship between these three concepts in the literature increases the importance of this research. Method: The research is a quantitative study based on the relational survey model and the sample group consisted 370 child development undergraduate students. Data were collected using the Altruism Scale, Moral Values Scale and Cognitive Flexibility Inventory. Pearson Correlation Analysis and mediation analysis through Process Macro were used in the analysis. Findings: The results of the analysis showed a strong positive relationship between altruism and moral values. It was found that "alternative" thinking skills, one of the sub-dimensions of cognitive flexibility, played a partial mediating role in this relationship, while the "control" dimension did not play a significant mediating role. Alternative thinking skills were found to play a critical role in the development of moral values that support altruistic behaviors. Conclusion: The mediating role of cognitive flexibility on altruism and moral values reveals that alternative thinking skills are especially important in this relationship. Future research is recommended to examine these relationships on larger sample groups and in cultural contexts. This study contributes to the literature on the effects of cognitive flexibility on social behavior.

Keywords

• Altruism
• Moral Values
• Cognitive Flexibility
• Alternative Thinking
• Control
• Mediation Analysis
• University Students
• Child Development.

ÇOCUK GELİŞİMİ ÖĞRENCİLERİNİN ÖZGECİLİK İLE AHLAKİ DEĞERLERİ ARASINDAKİ İLİŞKİDE BİLİŞSEL ESNEKLİKLERİNİN ARACILIK ROLÜ

Abstract

Amaç: Bu araştırmanın amacı, üniversite öğrencilerinin ahlaki değerleri ile altruizm arasındaki ilişkide bilişsel esnekliğin aracı rolünü incelemektir. Bu bağlamda, bilişsel esnekliğin alt boyutları olan "alternatif" ve "kontrol" değişkenlerinin bu ilişkideki etkileri değerlendirilmiştir. Altruizm, ahlaki değerler ve bilişsel esneklik, bireylerin sosyal ve etik kararlarında önemli bir rol oynamaktadır. Araştırma, bu özelliklerin incelenmesi yoluyla çocuk gelişimi öğrencilerinin mesleki gelişimine katkı sağlamayı hedeflemektedir. Literatürde bu üç kavram arasındaki ilişkiye yönelik sınırlı sayıda çalışma bulunması, araştırmanın önemini artırmaktadır. Yöntem: Araştırma, ilişkisel tarama modeline dayanan nicel bir çalışma olup, örneklem grubunu 370 çocuk gelişimi lisans öğrencisi oluşturmaktadır. Veriler, Altruizm Ölçeği, Ahlaki Değerler Ölçeği ve Bilişsel Esneklik Envanteri ile toplanmıştır. Analizlerde Pearson Korelasyon Analizi ve Process Macro ile aracılık analizi kullanılmıştır. Bulgular: Analiz sonuçları, altruizm ile ahlaki değerler arasında güçlü bir pozitif ilişki olduğunu göstermiştir. Bilişsel esnekliğin alt boyutlarından biri olan "alternatif" düşünme becerisinin bu ilişkide kısmi aracı bir rol oynadığı, ancak "kontrol" boyutunun anlamlı bir aracılık rolü oynamadığı bulunmuştur. Alternatif düşünme becerisinin, altruistik davranışları destekleyen ahlaki değerlerin gelişiminde kritik bir rol oynadığı belirlenmiştir. Sonuç: Bilişsel esnekliğin, altruizm ve ahlaki değerler üzerindeki aracı rolü, özellikle alternatif düşünme becerilerinin bu ilişkide önemli olduğunu ortaya koymaktadır. Gelecek araştırmalarda, bu ilişkilerin daha büyük örneklem gruplarında ve kültürel bağlamlarda incelenmesi önerilmektedir. Bu çalışma, bilişsel esnekliğin sosyal davranışlar üzerindeki etkilerine yönelik literatüre katkı sağlamaktadır.

Keywords

• Özgecilik
• Ahlaki Değerler
• Bilişsel Esneklik
• Alternatif Düşünme
• Kontrol
• Aracılık Analizi
• Üniversite Öğrencileri
• Çocuk Gelişimi.

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