Mindset Neuroscience Podcast Season 2 Episode 12 – Moral Injury, Forgiveness and Cognitive Flexibility
Feb 22, 2022
Explore the intriguing concept of moral injury and its distinction from trauma. Discover how forgiveness and cognitive flexibility can unlock advanced neural mechanisms. Learn about the social and cultural sources of moral distress and their effects on communities. Delve into the role of morality in enhancing social cooperation. Stefanie also discusses effective therapies for addressing moral injury and how bringing pain into awareness can lead to purpose. Transform moral pain into a pathway for personal growth and resilience.
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Expand Utility Of Painful Events
- Stefanie Faye compares rigid use of a painful event to using a stick and ball only one way, limiting utility.
- Expanding how we interpret pain increases adaptive options and resilience.
Veteran Avoidance May Signal Moral Injury
- Stefanie Faye describes a veteran who avoids social gatherings and may be judged as overstimulated.
- She explains this avoidance can also stem from moral injury: shame, guilt, or belief of being unworthy.
Moral Injury Is Distinct From Threat Trauma
- Moral injury differs from trauma because it's not primarily fear- or danger-based but concerns betrayal and value transgression.
- Brain patterns differ too: PTSD links to amygdala arousal while moral injury links to precuneus self-referential processing.
