Exploring the Causal Network Structure of Phronesis with Bayesian Network Analysis

In this study, I explored the causal links among psychological functional components constituting phronesis, practical wisdom, identified in the Short Phronesis Measure (SPM) model. I focused on the multifaceted, interactive nature of phronesis for optimal moral functioning and flourishing as proposed in the SPM model for the conceptualization of the construct. For statistical analysis, I employed Bayesian network analysis to estimate the causal network model among the components in a data-driven manner based on the data collected from participants in the United States and United Kingdom. The resultant network model demonstrated that aspired moral identity was located at the top of the network as the common necessary condition and predictor for other components. Meanwhile, virtue identification and emotional regulation were located at the bottom of the network. I discussed the theoretical and practical implications of the findings, particularly those for moral education aiming at phronesis cultivation and human flourishing.