The moral voice in addiction and the self

The robust literature on moral psychology research has often overlooked people struggling with addiction, partly due to social, theoretical, and methodological biases. This has created a gap in understanding the role of moral thinking and its influence on addiction and recovery. To address this, our hermeneutic phenomenological study, the first in a series, explores the moral voice of individuals contending with addiction. The study interviewed 34 male participants from various ethnical backgrounds and ages with substance and behavioral addictions using semi-structured methods, focusing on factors shaping their moral thinking and behavior. The findings highlight that moral thinking is central to individuals with addiction, yet it fails to regulate behavior due to conflicting addictive drives, and its presence during active addiction can hinder recovery efforts. This misalignment often leads to tormenting internal conflict and a detrimental effect on both self and others. Participants attempted to establish a modus vivendi (a manner of living) but often failed, resulting in covert moral schemas that complicate their psychological states. This phenomenon, described as a moral spin, illustrates the complex interplay between addiction and morality. To address rebuilding moral identity and recovery, we may support framing egocentrism positively through a self-compassionate moral inventory. •Explores moral thinking in individuals struggling with addiction•Reveals “moral spin,” a conflict of addiction and moral values•Highlights moral thinking as central but ineffective in behavioral regulation•Examines covert moral schemas complicating psychological recovery•Suggests self-compassion in rebuilding moral identity during recovery