The Morality Game: Is the Evaluation of the Instrumental Utility of Moral Dilemmas Related to Decision Outcomes

Abstract

This article investigates the relation of the evaluation of the instrumental utility of moral dilemmas to decision outcomes. The results indicate that nuances of dilemma perception assessed in the study (perceived realism of dilemmas, their plausibility, reflection of real behavior and an assessment of the extent to which responses to moral dilemmas can be used to judge moral maturity, empathy, level of intelligence and sense of humor) are not significantly related to objective behavior, as expressed in the number of consequentialist responses. Instruction about the nature of the study, however, may influence the moral choices made. Participants who were informed by instruction that their personality could be judged by their responses to moral dilemmas gave more deontological responses than others. An explanation is proposed that such instruction acts as a factor that provokes the adoption of the role of the apprehensive participant and, as a consequence, socially desirable behavior. This aspect highlights the importance of considering contextual factors in the study of moral behavior. It is suggested that moral dilemmas should not be viewed through the lens of ecological validity but rather as a tool that allows for a high level of experimental control, facilitating a more indepth study of behavior under specific stimulus conditions