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To beckon or not to beckon: Testing a causal-evaluative modelling approach to moral judgment: A registered report

McHugh, Cillian, Francis, Kathryn, Everett, Jim A.C., Timmons, Shane (2024) To beckon or not to beckon: Testing a causal-evaluative modelling approach to moral judgment: A registered report. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 113 . Article Number 104616. ISSN 0022-1031. (doi:10.1016/j.jesp.2024.104616) (KAR id:105585)

Abstract

Moral judgments are increasingly being understood as showing context dependent variability. A growing literature has identified a range of specific contextual factors (e.g., emotions, intentions) that can influence moral judgments in predictable ways. Integrating these diverse influences into a unified approach to understanding moral judgments remains a challenge. Recent work by Railton (2017) attempted to address this with a causal-evaluative modelling approach to moral judgment. In support of this model Railton presents evidence from novel variations of classic trolley type dilemmas. We present results from a pre-registered pilot study that highlight a significant confound and demonstrate that it likely influenced Railton's results. Building on this, our registered report presents a replication-extension of Railton's study, using larger more diverse samples, and more rigorous methods and materials, specifically controlling for potential confounds. We found that participants' judgments in sacrificial dilemmas are influenced by both direct personal force, and by whether harm occurs as a means or as a side-effect of action. We also show the relationship between a range of individual difference variables and responses to sacrificial moral dilemmas. Our results provide novel insights into the factors that influence people's moral judgments, and contribute to ongoing theoretical debates in moral psychology.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1016/j.jesp.2024.104616
Uncontrolled keywords: moral judgment; causal evaluative modelling; means vs side-effect
Subjects: B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Human and Social Sciences > School of Psychology
Funders: Leverhulme Trust (https://ror.org/012mzw131)
Depositing User: Jim Everett
Date Deposited: 09 Apr 2024 12:47 UTC
Last Modified: 10 Apr 2024 12:08 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/105585 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

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