Mapping Moral Dimensions in Italy: Psychometric Adaptation and Predictive Insights from the Morality-as-Cooperation Questionnaire

Abstract

The study of morality has a long-standing tradition in Italy, yet existing tools, such as the Moral Foundations Questionnaire (MFQ), face notable challenges. This research bridges the gap by introducing and adapting the Morality-as-Cooperation Questionnaire (MAC-Q) in an Italian sample. Grounded in the Morality-as-Cooperation (MAC) Theory, which conceptualizes morality as evolved solutions to cooperation problems, the MAC-Q identifies seven moral dimensions: Obligations to Family, Group Loyalty, Reciprocity, Heroism, Respect for Authority, Fairness, and Respect for Property Rights.
A total of 693 participants completed an online survey including the MAC-Q, which assessed the relevance and judgment of moral considerations. Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) supported the seven-factor structure across both the Relevance and the Judgment subscales, confirming the validity of the theoretical framework in the Italian context. Convergent validity was established through significant correlations between the MAC-Q and the Italian version of the MFQ. Predictive validity analyses indicated that MAC-Q dimensions significantly predicted political orientation, immoral behavioral intentions, and ingroup morality, with differentiated patterns depending on the specific moral dimensions considered. The findings suggest the potential of the MAC-Q as a tool capable of capturing moral dimensions and their correlates in the Italian context.