Causal superseding.

Area of Science:

• Cognitive Psychology
• Social Psychology
• Decision Sciences

Background:

• Agents violating norms are often seen as more causal for outcomes.
• Existing research has not fully explored how norm violations influence causality attributed to *other* agents.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and define the concept of "causal superseding."
• To propose and empirically test a counterfactual reasoning model explaining this phenomenon.
• To investigate the scope and conditions under which causal superseding occurs.

Main Methods:

• Four experiments were conducted to test the causal superseding effect.
• Methods included manipulating norm violations and assessing causal attributions.
• Counterfactual reasoning principles were used to model and predict the observed effects.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated the existence of causal superseding, where norm violations reduce perceived causality of other agents.
• Distinguished causal superseding from previously identified effects.
• Showed the effect is contingent on specific event structures and can occur with non-moral norm violations.

Conclusions:

• Causal superseding is a distinct phenomenon driven by counterfactual thinking.
• The proposed counterfactual model effectively explains the observed effects.
• Understanding causal superseding is crucial for judgments of responsibility and agency.