WHAT IF SOMEONE STARTS TO SOB? On the role emotions in Moral Case Deliberation and the role of the facilitator regarding emotions

Abstract

MCD allows for a conversation between professionals, facilitated by a facilitator, about a moral question that professional struggle with in their practice. In this thesis I explore the question to what extent the value of emotions in Moral Case Deliberation (MCD) is determined by the way facilitators act towards those emotions. The research conducted was a qualitative research with semi-structured interviews as primary method of data-collection, in the spirit of action research. In the theoretical framework of this thesis I delved into both emotions and the role of the facilitator, in separate chapters. I found that the way facilitators (decide to) respond to emotions in their MCDs does seem to affect the degree to which emotions are (considered) of value in MCD. There are indications that both their outlook on the value of emotions and their ability to handle emotions in MCD, are determining factors in the degree to which emotions are functional (or: not dysfunctional) in the MCD. This indicates that it could be interesting to give dealing with emotions a more prominent place in both the role of the facilitator, and in the training for aspiring facilitators.