Journal article
Situational factors shape moral judgments in the trolley dilemma in Eastern, Southern, and Western countries in a culturally diverse sample
Nature Human Behaviour, Vol.6, pp.880-895
2022
PMID: 35422529
Abstract
The study of moral judgements often centers on moral dilemmas in which options consistent with deontological perspectives (i.e., emphasizing rules, individual rights, and duties) are in conflict with options consistent with utilitarian judgements (i.e., following the greater good based on consequences). Greene et al. (2009) showed that psychological and situational factors (e.g., the intent of the agent or the presence of physical contact between the agent and the victim) can play an important role in moral dilemma judgements (e.g., trolley problem). Our knowledge is limited concerning both the universality of these effects outside the United States and the impact of culture on the situational and psychological factors of moral judgements. Thus, we empirically tested the universality of the effects of intent and personal force on moral dilemma judgements by replicating the experiments of Greene et al. in 45 countries from all inhabited continents. We found that personal force and its interaction with intention, exert influence on moral judgements in the US and Western cultural clusters, replicating and expanding the original findings. Moreover, the personal force effect was present in all cultural clusters, suggesting it is culturally universal. The evidence for the cultural universality of the interaction effect was inconclusive in the Eastern and Southern cultural clusters (depending on exclusion criteria). We found no strong association between collectivism/individualism and moral dilemma judgements.
Details
- Title
- Situational factors shape moral judgments in the trolley dilemma in Eastern, Southern, and Western countries in a culturally diverse sample
- Authors
- Bence Bago (Corresponding Author) - Institute for Advanced Study in ToulouseMarton Kovacs (Author) - Eötvös Loránd UniversityJohn Protzko (Author) - University of California, Santa BarbaraTamas Nagy (Author) - Eötvös Loránd UniversityZoltan Kekecs (Author) - Eötvös Loránd UniversityBence Palfi (Author) - University of SussexMatus Adamkovic (Author) - University of PrešovSylwia Adamus (Author) - Jagiellonian UniversitySumaya Albalooshi (Author) - University of GroningenNihan Albayrak-Aydemir (Author) - London School of Economics and Political ScienceIlham N Alfian - Airlangga UniversitySinan Alper - Yaşar UniversitySara Álvarez-Solas - Universidad Regional Amazónica IKIAMSara G Alves - Universidade do PortoSantiago Amaya - Universidad de Los AndesPia K Andresen - Radboud University NijmegenGulnaz Anjum - University of OsloDaniel Ansari - University of Western OntarioPatrícia Arriaga - Iscte – Instituto Universitário de LisboaJohn Jamir Benzon R. Aruta - De La Salle UniversityAlexios Arvanitis - University of CreteBabincak Peter - University of PrešovKrystian Barzykowski - Jagiellonian UniversityBashour Bana - American University of BeirutErnest Baskin - Saint Joseph's UniversityLuisa Batalha - Australian Catholic UniversityCarlota Batres - Franklin & Marshall CollegeJozef Bavolar - University of Pavol Jozef ŠafárikFatih Bayrak - Başkent UniversityBenjamin Becker - University of Electronic Science and Technology of ChinaMaja Becker - Université de ToulouseAnabel Belaus - Universidad Nacional de CórdobaMichał Białek - University of WrocławEnnio Bilancini - IMT School for Advanced Studies LuccaDaniel Boller - University of St.GallenLeonardo Boncinelli - University of FlorenceJordane Boudesseul - Universidad de LimaBenjamin T Brown - Georgia Gwinnett CollegeErin M Buchanan - Harrisburg University of Science and TechnologyMuhammad M Butt - Government College University, LahoreDustin P Calvillo - California State University, San MarcosNate C Carnes - California State University, San MarcosJared B Celniker - University of California, IrvineChristopher R Chartier - Ashland UniversityWilliam J Chopik - Michigan State UniversityPoom Chotikavan - Chulalongkorn UniversityHu Chuan-Peng - Nanjing Normal UniversityRockwell F Clancy - Delft University of TechnologyOgeday Çoker - Pamukkale UniversityRita C Correia - Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do SulVera Cubela Adoric - University of ZadarCarmelo P Cubillas - Universidad Autónoma de MadridStefan Czoschke - Goethe University FrankfurtYalda Daryani - University of TehranJob A M de Grefte - University of GroningenWieteke C de Vries - University of GroningenElif G Demirag Burak - Koç UniversityCarina Dias - Universidade do PortoBarnaby J W Dixson (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Health and Behavioural Sciences - LegacySee article text for complete list of remaining 211 authors (Author)
- Publication details
- Nature Human Behaviour, Vol.6, pp.880-895
- Publisher
- Nature Publishing Group
- Date published
- 2022
- DOI
- 10.1038/s41562-022-01319-5
- ISSN
- 2397-3374
- PMID
- 35422529
- Grant note
- See article text for complete funder listing.
- Organisation Unit
- Australian Centre for Pacific Islands Research; School of Health - Psychology; School of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Legacy
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99629738602621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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- Neurosciences
- Psychology, Biological
- Psychology, Experimental
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