Work

Dual processes and moral conflict: Evidence for deontological reasoners’ intuitive utilitarian sensitivity

Year: 2017

Type: article

Abstract: The prominent dual process model of moral cognition suggests that reasoners intuitively detect that harming others is wrong (deontological System-1 morality) but have to engage in demanding deliberation to realize that harm can be acceptable depending on the consequences (utilitarian System-2 morality). But the nature of the interaction between the processes is not clear. To address this key issue we tested whether deontological reasoners also intuitively grasp the utilitarian dimensions of classic moral dilemmas. In three studies subjects solved moral dilemmas in which utilitarian and deontological considerations cued conflicting or non-conflicting decisions while performing a demanding concurrent load task. Results show that reasoners’ sensitivity to conflicting moral perspectives, as reflected in decreased decision confidence and increased experienced processing difficulty, was unaffected by cognitive load. We discuss how these findings argue for a hybrid dual process model interpretation in which System-1 cues both a deontological and utilitarian intuition.

Source: Judgment and Decision Making

DOI: 10.1017/s1930297500005696

Authors: Michal Białek, Wim De Neys

Institutions: Kozminski University, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Sorbonne Université, Laboratoire de Psychologie du Développement et de L’Education de l’enfant, Université Paris Descartes

Language: English

Topic: Psychology of Moral and Emotional Judgment

Subfield: Cognitive Neuroscience

Field: Neuroscience

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,550

OpenAlex ID: W4313425085