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Intentionality attribution and emotion: The Knobe Effect in alexithymia
Micaela Maria Zucchelli1, Francesca Starita2, Caterina Bertini2
1Department of Psychology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
Cognition
|June 24, 2019
Summary
Emotion significantly influences our judgment of intentionality, particularly in moral contexts. Individuals with alexithymia, who have difficulty processing emotions, show a reduced
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Moral Psychology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Intentionality attribution is key to moral competence.
- The 'Knobe effect' shows intentionality judgments differ based on side effect valence (negative vs. positive).
- The role of emotion in the Knobe effect is debated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how emotion and alexithymia affect intentionality attribution.
- To examine the influence of side effect valence and salience on intentionality judgments.
- To assess the relationship between emotional processing, physiological responses, and the Knobe effect.
Main Methods:
- Assessed intentionality judgments in individuals with low (LA) and high (HA) alexithymia.
- Manipulated side effect valence (positive/negative) and salience (low/high).
- Measured subjective emotional response and skin conductance levels.
Main Results:
- LA individuals showed a stronger Knobe effect, linking negative side effects to higher intentionality, correlated with emotional response.
- HA individuals exhibited a reduced Knobe effect, attributing less intentionality to negative side effects, especially low salience ones.
- HA individuals displayed reduced subjective emotional responses to negative side effects compared to LA individuals.
Conclusions:
- Emotion plays a critical role in intentionality attribution and moral cognition.
- Difficulties in emotional processing, as seen in alexithymia, impact moral judgments.
- Findings clarify the link between alexithymia, emotional processing, and the Knobe effect.
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