MISANTHROPIC ATTITUDE IN EMERGING ADULTS: EXPLORING THE ROLE OF RELIGIOUS INTOLERANCE AND MORAL DISENGAGEMENT

The present study examined the relationship amid religious intolerance, moral disengagement and misanthropy in adults. In order to examine the hypothesized relationship, a cross-sectional correlational research design was employed to collect data from a sample of 200 emerging adults (n = 104 men, n = 96 women) aged (18-25) years (M=21.14, SD=1.98) by using a nonprobability convenient sampling technique. The study variables were assessed through the Interreligious Sensitivity Scale (Holm, Nokelainen & Tirri, 2011), the Moral Disengagement Scale for Adults (Saif & Riaz, 2021), and Misanthropy Scale (Wuensch, 2002). The results provide significant information in reaching the conclusion. The results showed a significant positive relationship between religious intolerance, moral disengagement and misanthropy. Besides, religious intolerance and moral disengagement positively predicted misanthropy in the emerging adults. However, moral disengagement did not mediate the relationship between the religious intolerance and misanthropy. These indigenous findings would help the educational institutes to incorporate religious tolerance in emerging adults through curricula, promoting social harmony and can be used for further research exploration.