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Protected Values and Omission Bias
Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes
|August 6, 1999
Summary
Protected values (PVs) are moral beliefs that should not be compromised. Research shows PVs correlate with a bias against harmful actions, not omissions, and a lesser concern for the quantity of outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Behavioral Economics
- Moral Decision-Making
Background:
- Protected values (PVs) are considered non-negotiable moral tenets.
- Prior research suggests PVs stem from rules about actions rather than outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between protected values and omission bias.
- To explore the association between protected values and concern for the number of acts versus outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Three experiments were conducted using stimuli designed to elicit omission bias.
- Participants' protected values and their responses to hypothetical scenarios involving acts and omissions were assessed.
Main Results:
- A significant correlation was found between protected values and a bias against harmful actions compared to omissions.
- A weaker association emerged between protected values and reduced concern for the number of acts involved.
- One experiment indicated a greater willingness to sacrifice protected values to prevent losses than to achieve gains.
Conclusions:
- Protected values are strongly linked to an active bias against causing harm, aligning with action-based moral rules.
- The findings support the idea that protected values influence decision-making, particularly in contexts involving potential harm and trade-offs.
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