c. richard spates, ph.d
karis l. callaway, ph.d
the moral injury spectrum
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About the
authors
Dr. C. Richard Spates, Ph.D
Dr. C. Richard Spates, Ph.D., is a distinguished clinical psychologist, researcher, and professor emeritus at Western Michigan University. With a career spanning over four decades, Dr. Spates has made significant contributions to the field of clinical psychology, particularly in the areas of anxiety disorders, trauma, and empirically supported treatments.
Dr karis l. callaway, ph.d
Dr. Callaway began working with Canadian Armed Forces members in 2009 and Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers in 2012, prior to entering a Master of Arts in Psychology program in 2013. Throughout her graduate studies, she maintained her interest in traumatic stress and moral injury in these populations, and continued to refine her understanding.
Testimonial
What Readers are Saying
Victims of the immoral perpetration of widely held moral values by “heroes” whose degradation of those values, on afterthought, cause them distress, are often left in the dust. As fallout, they are left to mend themselves or, at best, be treated for the “trauma” of the visible assault, rarely for the lingering inconsolable ruin to their personhood that is the essence of moral injury. Every victim of rape or assault by an authority figure confronts this reality in either immediate or delayed and lingering and confused form. This book, Spates & Callaway, brings long overdue attention to this highly nuanced and neglected aspect of moral injury. With gratitude and many thanks!!
Amy McCarty, Ph.D
Organizational Performance Analyst (retired) and former Non-Commissioned Officer, USMC
For years, my colleagues and I at Western Michigan University have worked with Dr. Spates on a wide range of issues facing military shareholders, and his leadership, knowledge, experience, education, and forward-thinking treatment strategies continue to benefit our military and veteran students to this day. This new work by Drs. Spates and Callaway continue this legacy of nuanced, highly focused, evidence-based academic output that offers the rare, in-depth research and analysis into the overlooked landscape of moral injury that should be a must for any specialist or care provider in the field.
Eric McConnell, MA
University Ombuds, WMU
About
the book
The book is a culmination of rigorous research and synthesizes key insights and findings from the field of moral injury. It provides a comprehensive understanding of the topic and its implications for clinical practice. The authors, drawing upon the seminal work of Jonathan Shay and Brett Litz, define moral injury as the profound emotional and psychological pain experienced when one’s actions or witnessed actions deeply violate one’s moral or ethical code.
The historical roots of moral injury are traced back to the experiences of Vietnam War veterans, and the concept’s evolution and relevance beyond the military context are explored. The authors examine specific domains where moral injury manifests, including the military, healthcare, higher education, academia, and law enforcement, highlighting the importance of context in understanding and addressing moral injury.
Jonathan Haidt’s moral foundations theory is integrated into the understanding of the concept of “injury” in the moral injury landscape, providing a deeper understanding of the psychological processes involved. The role of psychological pre-moral injury status and parenting style as formative forces and risk factors for moral injury is explored, along with the role of faith in the development of morals, as a setting event for moral injury, and as a mechanism for healing.
