Ira has just stolen a purse from a woman on the subway. He then says to himself, "If that woman really wanted her purse, she would have held it closer to her body." This statement provides a good example of

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Ira's statement shows moral disengagement, which is the process of justifying or rationalizing immoral behavior by distancing oneself from the negative consequences of their actions. In this case, Ira blames the victim for not taking better care of her purse, rather than taking responsibility for his own actions. Morality of justice (A) refers to the belief in rules and punishment for breaking those rules, whereas autonomous morality (C) refers to the development of personal principles and values. Empathy (D) involves understanding and sharing the feelings of others, which is not evident in Ira's statement.

Ira Has Just Stolen a Purse from a Woman on the Subway