[Dispositional mindfulness modulates automatic transference of disgust into moral judgment]

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Cognitive Science
• Moral Psychology

Background:

• Incidental disgust is known to intensify moral judgments.
• The moderating role of individual differences, such as mindfulness, in this effect remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if mindfulness modulates the automatic transference of disgust into moral judgment.
• To examine the impact of specific mindfulness facets on the disgust-moral judgment link.

Main Methods:

• Undergraduates were grouped into high and low mindfulness based on the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ).
• Participants experienced disgust induction or a neutral condition before evaluating moral and non-moral scenarios.

Main Results:

• Disgust induction significantly increased moral judgment severity in low "acting with awareness" participants.
• High "acting with awareness" participants' moral judgments were unaffected by disgust induction.
• Other FFMQ facets did not moderate the disgust-moral judgment relationship.

Conclusions:

• The "acting with awareness" facet of mindfulness prevents the automatic influence of disgust on moral judgments.
• Mindfulness may act as a buffer against emotional biases in moral decision-making, even in high-conflict situations.