Haidt (2003) conceptualizes moral elevation and moral disgust as contrasting emotions at the opposite ends of a “moral purity” dimension. The current paper investigates whether this concept holds true and elevation and disgust are counteracting emotions, e.g., if elevation has diametric effects compared to disgust. As disgust has shown a strengthening effect on morality (Wheatley & Haidt, 2005), the present research examines the influence of elevation on moral judgment and punishment, too. However, evidence in previous research for effects of elevation is contradictory. Thus, in Study 1, we tested in an initial, cross-sectional approach the association of empathy (theorized as “trait elevation”) and disgust sensitivity with pro-social behavior, respectively volunteer work. Empathy was a significant predictor for volunteer work experience. Domains of disgust showed diametric effects: More moral disgust and less pathogen disgust sensitivity were also significant predictors. Study 2 focused primarily on moral elevation as an affective, emotional state and was conducted as a lab-study. We tested three conditions (moral elevation, an amusement condition to control for positive affect, and a neutral condition) on pathogen disgust, moral judgment and punishment motivation. No differences between the conditions were observed. Explanations for the findings are discussed.
Table of Contents
Can a Moved Heart Make a Change? Effects of Moral Elevation on Disgust, Morality and Punishment
Disgust as Part of a Behavioral Immune System
Elevation as the Complementary Emotion of Disgust
Elevation and Pathogen Disgust, Morality and Punishment
The Present Studies
Study 1
Method
Results
Discussion
Study 2
Method
Results
Discussion
General Discussion
Strengths, Limitations and Directions for Future Research
Concluding Remarks
Research Objectives & Key Themes
This thesis investigates the complex psychological interplay between moral elevation and various forms of disgust, specifically examining whether moral elevation acts as a counteracting emotional force to disgust-driven moral judgments and punishment motivations.
- The relationship between moral elevation and pro-social behavior
- The distinction between pathogen disgust and moral disgust
- The role of trait empathy in predicting volunteer work
- The potential for emotional states to influence moral judgment and punitive sentencing
- Methodological explorations of state-based emotional priming
Excerpt from the Book
Can a Moved Heart Make a Change? Effects of Moral Elevation on Disgust, Morality and Punishment
How does the reader feel while reading the following story? “The old and poor Grandpa Dobri is usually to find in front of the Bulgarian Nevsky Cathedral: Begging for money, he is well known by the people passing by every day. In 2010, during the filming of a documentary about the Cathedral, a journalist made an astonishing discovery. The most generous private donator was no other than Grandpa Dobri. He saved up EUR 40,000 from begging to support the church’s renovation, leaving only his little pension of EUR 100 per month for living (News in Pictures, 2013).” Haidt (2000) observed that solely watching another person behaving truly altruistically, respectively doing good to strangers without expecting a reward back, can cause a warm emotion that triggers the wish to become a supportive and “better” person. He coined the phenomenon described in this observation “(moral) elevation”1. Moral elevation is supposed to encourage pro-social behavior (Freeman, Aquino, & McFerran, 2009; Schnall, Roper, & Fessler, 2010). Moreover, it is assumed to motivate a state of context-freed pro-sociality (Schnall, Roper, & Fessler, 2009). Further effects however, e.g. on cognition, have been rarely tested so far. Nonetheless, the study of elevation is assumed by the authors to be of relevance for all areas concerning pro-social behavior such as fund-raising, volunteering, cooperation, racism, politics or law.
Summary of Chapters
Can a Moved Heart Make a Change? Effects of Moral Elevation on Disgust, Morality and Punishment: Introduces the concept of moral elevation as a warm, altruistic emotional state triggered by witnessing good deeds.
Disgust as Part of a Behavioral Immune System: Explores the evolutionary function of disgust in protecting against pathogens and its manifestation in social/moral domains.
Elevation as the Complementary Emotion of Disgust: Discusses the theoretical framework positioning elevation as the moral and pro-social counterbalance to disgust.
Elevation and Pathogen Disgust, Morality and Punishment: Evaluates hypotheses regarding how elevation might reduce disgust sensitivity and alter moral judgment.
The Present Studies: Outlines the research plan, including a web-based cross-sectional study on personality traits and a lab-based study on emotional priming.
Study 1: Analyzes the link between trait empathy, disgust sensitivity, and past engagement in volunteer work.
Study 2: Investigates the causal effect of experimentally induced moral elevation on pathogen disgust, moral judgment, and punishment motivations.
General Discussion: Synthesizes findings from both studies, noting the success in identifying trait predictors in Study 1 and the lack of significant state-based effects in Study 2.
Strengths, Limitations and Directions for Future Research: Critically evaluates the methodology, highlighting cultural differences and priming challenges, and suggests paths for future studies.
Concluding Remarks: Summarizes the thesis's contribution to understanding moral elevation and suggests future research directions to overcome identified methodological constraints.
Keywords
Moral elevation, Disgust Sensitivity, Empathy, Pro-social behavior, Volunteer Work, Moral Judgment, Punishment motivation, Altruism, Behavioral Immune System, Social Value Orientation, Pathogen Disgust, Moral Disgust, Moral Purity, Affective state, Psychological priming.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this thesis?
The thesis explores the psychological relationship between moral elevation—an emotion felt when witnessing altruistic acts—and its potential to counteract disgust and influence moral judgment and punishment.
What are the primary themes explored in this research?
Key themes include the distinction between pathogen and moral disgust, the role of trait empathy in pro-social behavior, and the experimental impact of emotional states on punitive attitudes.
What is the main goal of the research?
The primary goal is to determine if moral elevation, theorized as an opposite to moral disgust, can reduce sensitivity to pathogen disgust and shift individuals toward less harsh moral judgments and punishments.
Which scientific methods were employed?
The research used a dual-method approach: a web-based survey to examine trait-based correlations (Study 1) and a controlled laboratory experiment with emotional video priming to test causal effects (Study 2).
What does the main body of the paper cover?
The main body reviews the literature on the behavioral immune system, presents the theoretical link between elevation and disgust, and details the procedures, results, and discussions of both conducted studies.
Which keywords characterize this work?
Core keywords include Moral elevation, Disgust Sensitivity, Empathy, Pro-social behavior, Volunteer Work, and Moral Judgment.
Why were volunteers categorized into low-pathogen and high-pathogen groups in Study 1?
The researchers sought to determine if different personality profiles, such as disgust sensitivity or empathy, predicted a preference for volunteering in environments with varying levels of physical and pathogenic exposure.
How did the experimental setup in Study 2 manage to isolate "moral elevation"?
The researchers used a three-condition between-subject design (elevation, amusement, and neutral), utilizing an Oprah Winfrey video to trigger elevation while controlling for general positive affect with an amusement condition.
Did the findings in Study 2 confirm the research hypotheses?
No, the Study 2 findings were null; while the manipulation check confirmed that participants experienced elevation, this did not translate into significant differences in pathogen disgust ratings, moral judgments, or punishment decisions compared to the control groups.
- Citation du texte
- Carolin Dors (Auteur), 2013, Effects of Moral Elevation on Disgust, Morality and Punishment, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/432871
