Moral self-identification and value orientations as determinants of envy

The paper presents the results of an empirical study of the moral value determinants of envy. It is shown that envy is determined by the following features of moral self-identification: 1) a system of paradigms in relation to which an agent must determine his or her attitude; 2) attitude to objects and phenomena of the world and the agent’s existence that determine his or her ability to moral assessment of various events and phenomena; 3) attitude to other people, groups, and society from the point of view of morals, formed by the strategy of behavior in interaction with others in various situations. Agents prone to envy are proved to tend to recognize the high importance of morality and ethics for society, to comprehend morality as a manifestation of the strength of a person and responsibility for his or her own moral character and ethical behavior. Egocentric value orientations and the moral strategy of reciprocity are the dominant characteristics. It is concluded that moral and value properties, qualities, characteristics that are externally set by society but not internalized by an agent may form the feeling of envy.