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When sentimental rules collide: "norms with feelings" in the dilemmatic context
Edward B Royzman1, Geoffrey P Goodwin, Robert F Leeman
1Department of Psychology, University of Pennsylvania, 3720 Walnut St., Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. royzman@psych.upenn.edu
Cognition
|July 15, 2011
Summary
Moral judgments are not solely driven by strong emotions, as previously suggested. Instead, individuals resolve moral dilemmas by evaluating the costs of different actions, supporting a rationalist approach to moral decision-making.
Area of Science:
- Moral Psychology
- Cognitive Science
- Philosophy
Background:
- Prominent theories suggest moral judgment arises from negative affect and beliefs about wrongness.
- Existing evidence for the "norms with feelings" model is mixed, lacking clear empirical resolution.
Purpose of the Study:
- To empirically test a prediction of the "norms with feelings" account in a novel dilemmatic context.
- To investigate whether affective intensity or rational appraisal predicts moral dilemma resolution.
Main Methods:
- Three studies were conducted using a novel dilemmatic context.
- Participants faced moral dilemmas pitting affectively-charged norms against each other.
- Emotional responses and cost appraisals were assessed.
Main Results:
- Findings challenge the prediction that strongest emotion dictates moral judgment resolution.
- Degree of norm-congruent emotion did not significantly predict dilemma resolution.
- Appraisal of relative costs associated with actions was the most predictive factor.
Conclusions:
- Results support a Kohlberg-style rationalist alternative over affect-based models.
- Moral decision-making in dilemmas appears to be driven by rational cost-benefit analysis.
- Findings contribute to a typology of moral encounters and ongoing debates.
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