Negative affective states and moral judgment: A closer look at their joint involvement

Abstract

ABSTRACT This paper considers two studies that address negative affective states and moral reasoning while taking the Defining Issues Tests (DIT, DIT2). Both studies confirmed earlier findings that the DIT dilemma, ‘Heinz and the Drug,’ and the DIT2 dilemma, ‘Famine,’ are related to increased anger and sadness and decreased moral reasoning. Similar findings were observed in the context of a video consideration of a real-life dilemma paralleling these two dilemmas (Study 1). Comparable findings pertaining to Famine were also observed among three samples of different moral judgment developmental levels, further implicating the role of dilemma content where the trends observed are concerned (Study 2). Overall, both studies illustrated similar patterns of affective states and moral reasoning across all considered DIT/DIT2 dilemmas thereby offering further evidence of the joint involvement of rational deliberation and affective states in the consideration of DIT/DIT2 dilemmas.