Psychology Chapter on Moral Dilemmas

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Questions and Answers

What did the study find about individuals high in psychopathy regarding their decision-making preferences?

They display a greater preference for inaction.

They make more utilitarian judgements than deontological judgements.

They prefer action over inaction but are less sensitive to consequences. (correct)

They have increased sensitivity to moral norms.

Which model may misinterpret the complexity of moral judgements made by individuals?

The dual-process model (correct)

The trinary judgement model

The single-process model

The binary model

In the context of moral dilemmas, what does a preference for inaction indicate?

A strong adherence to utilitarian principles.

An avoidance of moral decision-making altogether. (correct)

A commitment to traditional ethical norms.

An inclination towards consequentialist thinking.

What aspect of moral judgement was shown to process rapidly and in parallel according to the study?

Both utilitarian and deontological information. Signup and view all the answers

How did participants react to morally shocking stories, according to the research mentioned?

Their moral judgments were influenced by disgust and disrespect. Signup and view all the answers

What principle did the college students adhere to when evaluating moral judgments?

The harm principle Signup and view all the answers

How do WEIRD and non-WEIRD societies differ in their moral frameworks?

Non-WEIRD societies prioritize relationships and context over individual interests. Signup and view all the answers

What does sociocentric morality prioritize?

The needs of groups and institutions Signup and view all the answers

How can strong commitment to moral principles impact social behavior?

It can lead to prejudice and discrimination against out-groups. Signup and view all the answers

What was a common reaction of the working-class participants when asked to justify their moral judgments?

They showed long pauses and bewildered expressions. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT one of the binding foundations according to Moral Foundations Theory?

Care/harm Signup and view all the answers

According to the author's observations, what additional concerns arise in non-WEIRD societies?

Concerns that necessitate additional virtues for social cohesion. Signup and view all the answers

What outcome may arise from endorsing binding moral foundations?

Justification for harming out-group members. Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of moral identity in relation to the binding foundations?

It can motivate individuals to broaden their moral concern beyond their immediate in-group. Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of social norms may vary by culture according to the provided content?

The categorization of social norms into moral and conventional. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of virtue ethics in Confucianism?

Developing and refining one's character Signup and view all the answers

How does Chinese morality view the relationship between law and morality?

Law addresses serious crimes, whereas morality guides everyday behavior. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following behaviors is emphasized in Chinese moral cognition?

Practicing courteous behavior and etiquette Signup and view all the answers

What is a common misconception about moral judgment in psychology according to the content?

It is universally defined by principles of justice and fairness. Signup and view all the answers

What does the WEIRD society's approach to morality primarily focus on?

The universality of moral obligations Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Task 6 - Gut-wrenching: Affect and Cognition

Trolley Problem: A moral dilemma requiring a choice between saving 5 lives at the cost of 1. 90% of people choose to divert the trolley.
Footbridge Problem: A personal moral dilemma where one must choose to push a person to save 5 others. Only 10% of people choose this.
Deontological Judgments: Based on moral rules/obligations. More common in the footbridge problem, often using the affective system (fast, automatic decisions)
Utilitarian Judgments: Based on the practical/pragmatic consequences. More common in the trolley problem, often using the cognitive system (slower, more considered decisions).
DLPFC (Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex): Associated with the cognitive system, linked to utilitarian judgments. Inhibiting this area reduces utilitarian judgments in emotionally intense moral dilemmas.
VMPFC (Ventromedial Prefrontal Cortex): Associated with the affective system, linked to emotional generation and deontological judgments. Damage is linked to increased utilitarian judgements.
Antisocial/Psychopathic Individuals: More likely to make utilitarian judgments, especially in personal dilemmas. This links to a reduction in deontological inclinations, rather than increased utilitarian inclinations.
CNI Model: Suggests that moral judgments can be resolved by considering consequences (C), moral norms (N), and preference for inaction (I). Individuals high in psychopathy show a preference for action but less sensitivity to consequences and moral norms.
Moral Judgement Complexity: Real-life dilemmas may not parallel hypothetical dilemmas like trolley problems.

Beyond WEIRD Morality

WEIRD Participants: Western, educated, industrialized, rich, and democratic participants, show a tendency towards an ethic of autonomy.
Moral Foundations:
- Autonomy: Individuals are autonomous and have their own rights/needs.
- Community: People are members of groups that need protection.
- Divinity: Human actions impact spiritual and divine order (e.g. sanctity).
Moral Themes in WEIRD Cultures: Narrower and more focused on autonomy-related moral issues (e.g. harm, fairness).
Moral Judgement and Culture: Moral considerations are varied and depend on contextual norms. This is more evident in different cultures.

Chinese Morality

Virtue Ethics: Chinese morality emphasizes virtuous character, appropriate behavior, and etiquette.
Harmfulness vs. Incivility: Westerners tend to consider harming others as a primary immoral factor, whereas Chinese tend to label uncivilized behaviors as immoral.
Civility: An important component of Chinese morality and its emphasis on cultural appropriateness.
Moral Judgment Prototype: People judge behaviors by their similarity to pre-existing prototypes of immoral acts, rather than a universal standard.
Cultural Differences in Categorizing Immoral Actions: Westerners perceive harmful behaviors as more immoral than uncivilized behaviors among Chinese.

Moral Identity and Binding Moral Foundations

Moral Identity: A self-schema centered on moral values and traits. People with a strong moral identity often consider those outside their in-group (out-group members) in their moral judgment.
Binding Moral Foundations: Loyalty, authority, and purity strongly impact moral reasoning, though a strong moral identity can mitigate their impact, even when considering people external to the immediate in-group.
Cultural Considerations: Moral reasoning may rely on different prototypes for morality (e.g., harmful vs. uncivilized) depending on culture.

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Description

This quiz explores intricate moral dilemmas such as the Trolley Problem and the Footbridge Problem, highlighting the contrasting moral judgments of deontological and utilitarian ethics. Delve into the roles of the DLPFC and VMPFC in influencing our decisions in emotionally charged situations. Test your understanding of how affect and cognition interplay in moral reasoning.