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Consistency Versus Licensing Effects of Past Moral Behavior
Elizabeth Mullen1, Benoît Monin2
1School of Management, San José State University, San José, California 95192;
Annual Review of Psychology
|September 23, 2015
Summary
Past moral actions can either reinforce or contradict future behavior. This review explores factors influencing moral consistency versus moral licensing, finding abstract thinking promotes consistency and concrete thinking can lead to licensing.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Moral Psychology
- Behavioral Ethics
Background:
- Past moral behavior can influence subsequent actions, leading to either consistency or licensing.
- Existing literature presents conflicting findings on the moderators of these effects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To organize and synthesize the literature on moderators of moral consistency and moral licensing.
- To identify key conceptual themes that explain when past behavior leads to similar or opposite future actions.
Main Methods:
- A systematic review and conceptual organization of existing research on moral consistency and licensing.
- Analysis of five conceptual themes: construal level, progress versus commitment, identification, value reflection, and ambiguity.
Main Results:
- Individuals exhibit moral consistency when focusing abstractly on values and initial behavior.
- Moral licensing is more likely when individuals focus concretely on accomplishments, provided a cherished identity is not threatened.
- Many studies lacked adequate baseline conditions, creating ambiguity regarding licensing effects.
Conclusions:
- Abstract construal and value reflection promote moral consistency.
- Concrete construal and perceived accomplishment can lead to moral licensing.
- Further research is needed with robust designs to clarify the interplay between moderators and effects.
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