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Towards a Moral Ecology of Pharmacological Cognitive Enhancement in British Universities

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posted on 2023-07-26, 14:48 authored by Meghana K. Vagwala, Aude Bicquelet, Gabija Didziokaite, Ross Coomber, Oonagh Corrigan, Ilina Singh
Few empirical studies in the UK have examined the complex social patterns and values behind quantitative estimates of the prevalence of pharmacological cognitive enhancement (PCE). We conducted a qualitative investigation of the social dynamics and moral attitudes that shape PCE practices among university students in two major metropolitan areas in the UK. Our thematic analysis of eight focus groups (n = 66) suggests a moral ecology that operates within the social infrastructure of the university. We find that PCE resilience among UK university students is mediated by normative and cultural judgments disfavoring competitiveness and prescription drug taking. PCE risk can be augmented by social factors such as soft peer pressure and normalization of enhancement within social and institutional networks. We suggest that moral ecological dynamics should be viewed as key mechanisms of PCE risk and resilience in universities. Effective PCE governance within universities should therefore attend to developing further understanding of the moral ecologies of PCE.

History

Refereed

  • Yes

Volume

10

Issue number

3

Page range

389-403

Publication title

Neuroethics

ISSN

1874-5504

Publisher

Springer

File version

  • Published version

Language

  • eng

Legacy posted date

2019-11-19

Legacy creation date

2019-11-19

Legacy Faculty/School/Department

ARCHIVED Faculty of Health, Social Care & Education (until September 2018)

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