Up the moral pedestal: How self-image and self-beliefs fuel social action

We examine how moral outrage can promote perceived capacity for social change through the psychological mechanism of moral self-enhancement. Across four studies (N = 1300), we show that morally outraged individuals often engage in downward moral comparison, enhancing their sense of moral character relative to transgressors. This self-enhancement strengthens participatory efficacy, that is, beliefs in one’s capacity to enact change. In turn, heightened participatory efficacy increases readiness to engage in collective and individual actions aimed at addressing injustice. The findings showcase the motivational function of moral emotions and the role of identity-based processes in influencing social engagement. They also demonstrate that self-related processes can transform moral outrage into sustained collective engagement, reframing moral self-enhancement as a bridge to prosocial action and highlighting its potential to strengthen agency in mobilizing responses to complex existential threats such as climate change, technological risks, and global conflict.