Is Thou Shalt Not > Thou Shalt?: Testing the Behavioral Priority of Proscriptive Morality

• In Event: Moral Boundaries, Accountability, and the Possibilities of Solidarity

Abstract

The difference between proscriptions – what we should not do – and prescriptions – what we should do – is fundamental to moral cultural systems. Both serve positive individual and social functions, but it may be that people are not equally adept at acting according to both types of moral norms. Several lines of argument suggest that proscriptive morality should have greater influence on behavior, but existing research has not clearly established whether this is actually the case. We test the behavioral priority given to proscriptive morality using a meta-analysis of published experimental studies. This approach allows us to determine the extent to which people comply with proscriptive and prescriptive moral norms in real-time, observed behavior rather than relying on self-reports.

Authors

• Andrew Miles, University of Toronto

• Zifan Huang, University of Toronto