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How power influences moral thinking.

Joris Lammers1, Diederik A Stapel

  • 1Tilburg Institute of Behavioral Economics Research (TIBER), Tilburg University, Tilburg, the Netherlands. j.lammers@uvt.nl

Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
|July 29, 2009
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Power influences moral decision-making. High power promotes rule-based (deontological) thinking, while low power encourages outcome-based (consequentialist) approaches, impacting how individuals resolve moral dilemmas.

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Area of Science:

  • Social Psychology
  • Moral Psychology
  • Behavioral Economics

Background:

  • Power dynamics significantly influence individual behavior and decision-making processes.
  • Understanding the psychological effects of power is crucial for comprehending social interactions and ethical judgments.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate how the experience and conceptualization of power affect moral decision-making.
  • To determine whether power shifts individuals towards deontological or consequentialist moral reasoning.

Main Methods:

  • Five experiments were conducted to examine the relationship between power and moral resolution styles.
  • Participants' moral decision-making was assessed under conditions of high and low power, as well as through manipulation of power-related thoughts.

Main Results:

  • High power was associated with an increased preference for rule-based (deontological) moral thinking.
  • Low power was linked to a greater reliance on outcome-based (consequentialist) moral reasoning.
  • Moral orientation mediated the effect of power on decisions, and self-interest could reverse this link.

Conclusions:

  • Power fundamentally alters moral decision-making frameworks, promoting adherence to rules or focus on consequences.
  • The findings highlight the psychological impact of power on ethical judgments and behavior.
  • Self-interest plays a critical role in moderating the influence of power on moral choices.