Moral Traits and Emotional States: Examining the Impact of Emotion and Morality on Deviant Decisions

• In Event: Advancing Social Learning Theory: Beliefs, Norms and Morality as Causes of Crime

Abstract

A growing body of research is incorporating the study of morality and social intuitions on the decision to offend, with previous work on morality and decision-making providing evidence that different types of moral endorsements are differentially linked to both inhibiting and motivating deviant behavior. The current study expands on these findings by exploring the impact of emotional state on moral intuitions, as well as decision reaction times and outcomes in scenarios involving potential deviant behavior. This study introduces a set of two-step alternative forced-choice decision scenarios that allow the decision-making process to be examined in real time. Preliminary findings suggest that both emotional states and moral intuitions are linked to deviant behavior.

Authors

• Chrystal Alexander, Kennesaw State University

• Emily Martinez, Kennesaw State University

• Lisa M. Thompson Lee, Kennesaw State University