Who says “yes” to science without ethics? Acceptance of the violation of ethical norms due to scientific reasons in the context of empathy, systemizing, and the scientistic worldview

Abstract

There is a tension between scientific motivation for discoveries or broadening knowledge and compliance with ethical standards. What psychological factors are associated with recognizing scientific research as ethically unacceptable is of interest. The level of acceptance of the violation of ethical norms due to scientific reasons, empathy, systematization, and scientistic worldview was measured in 350 participants. A lower level of empathy and higher levels of systematization and the scientistic worldview were associated with a higher approval of the violation of ethics in scientific research. Male participants were also more willing to accept the violation of ethical norms due to scientific reasons than female participants. The above variables explained about 20% of the variance of the level of acceptance of the violation of ethical norms due to scientific reasons. Such acceptance was not related to age or the education level of the participants.