Moral Certainty: Do We Really Want to Know More?
Nina L. Powell Supervised by Dr Kim Quinn, Dr Sarah Beck, University of Birmingham & Dr Roger Giner-Sorolla, University of Kent
Introduction
Findings from previous research have shown that moral judgements can be influenced by factors such as intentionality, outcome, context and whether or not the harm was caused actively or passively (Spranca et al., 1991; Cushman, 2006).
Results
Anger Scenario: Participants found the action in the story to be very inappropriate (M = -2.49, SD = 1.27), and were very certain of their judgement (M = 5.22, SD = 1.31). Participants showed high levels of anger (M = 5.25, SD = 1.21).
What happens, however, when information is not readily available? Are people happy to condemn a moral transgression without having a great deal of circumstantial knowledge or information that may or may not mitigate the action?
Participants' mean ratings after reading scenario
DeScioli and Kurzban (2009) remarked on the unusual nature of morality in that we often make very strong, very confident third-party condemnations with very little insight.
m ean score
6 5 4 3 2 1 0 -1 Emotion Appropriateness Certainty
Knowledge
Emotion/Certainty
-2 -3 -4 question type Anger Disgust
When are we motivated to seek a greater understanding or consider circumstantial information? Methods
Participants: 121 undergraduate students from The University of Birmingham
Disgust Scenario: Participants found the action in the story to be very inappropriate (M = -2.68, SD = 1.14), and were very certain of their judgement (M = 5.47, SD = 1.40). Participants showed high levels of anger (M = 5.29, SD = 1.46).
Participants who chose 'yes' to desirability of additional information questions
50 45 n u m ber of p articip ants 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 Like additional information Need additional information type of question Anger Disgust Additional information helps understand judgement
Each participant read either a disgust-inducing scenario (brother and a sister have sex) or an anger-inducing scenario (date rape).
Each participant rated: Moral appropriateness of action Degree of anger/disgust felt by the participant Degree of certainty about their judgement
Discussion
Participants find additional information to be more useful and desirable when they experience anger in response to a moral violation of harm than when they experience disgust in response to a moral violation of purity. Given that participants’ ratings of their judgement certainty were high in both the disgust and anger inducing conditions, uncertainty is not guiding the desirability and usefulness of additional information.
Each participant was asked if they would LIKE additional information regarding the transgression, if they would NEED additional information regarding the transgression and if additional information would help them better UNDERSTAND their judgement.
____________________________ Contact Details Nina L. Powell NLP765@bham.ac.uk
