Moral Traits and Emotional States: Exploring the impact of morality and emotions on decision-making through a Moral Foundations Lens
Primary Investigator (PI) Name
Lisa Thompson
Department
RCHSS - Sociology & Criminal Justice
Abstract
Criminologists and psychologists are increasingly exploring both the role of emotions and morals in decision-making. However, these factors have been investigated independently of one another, either taking into account the fleeting nature of emotional states or the more static nature of moral intuitions. Therefore, this study aims to examine the connections between emotions, morality, and decision-making simultaneously, through the lens of Moral Foundations Theory and developmental perspectives. Specifically, we explore the relationship between morals and deviant decision-making, while accounting for emotional states and past experiences, by presenting participants with scenarios to be navigated in real-time. To measure this study, we use emotional priming techniques to influence the subject’s decision-making process. We utilize classical music to prime our subjects to experience positive and negative emotions, while controlling for a group with no music to evaluate the impact our emotions have. Our goal is to enhance theoretical understanding of the effect of emotions on moral pluralism and the decision-making process. Based on previous research, we would expect to find that emotional states do have a differentiating impact on how decisions are made. Findings from this research may provide useful information on the motivation for and navigation of deviant decisions.
Disciplines
Experimental Analysis of Behavior | Personality and Social Contexts | Social Control, Law, Crime, and Deviance
Moral Traits and Emotional States: Exploring the impact of morality and emotions on decision-making through a Moral Foundations Lens
Criminologists and psychologists are increasingly exploring both the role of emotions and morals in decision-making. However, these factors have been investigated independently of one another, either taking into account the fleeting nature of emotional states or the more static nature of moral intuitions. Therefore, this study aims to examine the connections between emotions, morality, and decision-making simultaneously, through the lens of Moral Foundations Theory and developmental perspectives. Specifically, we explore the relationship between morals and deviant decision-making, while accounting for emotional states and past experiences, by presenting participants with scenarios to be navigated in real-time. To measure this study, we use emotional priming techniques to influence the subject’s decision-making process. We utilize classical music to prime our subjects to experience positive and negative emotions, while controlling for a group with no music to evaluate the impact our emotions have. Our goal is to enhance theoretical understanding of the effect of emotions on moral pluralism and the decision-making process. Based on previous research, we would expect to find that emotional states do have a differentiating impact on how decisions are made. Findings from this research may provide useful information on the motivation for and navigation of deviant decisions.