Q7. “Ethical vulnerability is as dangerous as financial vulnerability”. Examine how emotional exploitation challenges ethical decision-making. Suggest mechanisms to promote ethical resilience. (10 M)
Difficulty Level: Medium
Reference: NIE
Why the question:
In light of increasing online scams that exploit emotional trust, such as the 2025 Mumbai case, which highlight how ethical judgement can be manipulated in the digital age.Key demand of the question:
It asks how emotional exploitation impairs ethical decision-making and what systemic or personal mechanisms can strengthen ethical resilience.Structure of the Answer:
Introduction:
Briefly define ethical vulnerability and link it to the misuse of emotional trust in digital interactions, which bypasses ethical filters.Body:
- Explain how emotional exploitation overrides ethical reasoning by inducing moral disengagement, distorted trust, and suppressed autonomy.
- Suggest mechanisms like emotional intelligence training, digital ethics literacy, and institutional support to build ethical resilience.
Conclusion:
Building ethical resilience must become as important as financial literacy to secure moral agency in a digitally connected society.
