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. 2008 Jun;107(3):1144-54.
doi: 10.1016/j.cognition.2007.11.004. Epub 2007 Dec 26.

Cognitive load selectively interferes with utilitarian moral judgment

Joshua D Greene  1 , Sylvia A Morelli, Kelly Lowenberg, Leigh E Nystrom, Jonathan D Cohen
Affiliations

Cognitive load selectively interferes with utilitarian moral judgment

Joshua D Greene et al. Cognition. 2008 Jun.

Abstract

Traditional theories of moral development emphasize the role of controlled cognition in mature moral judgment, while a more recent trend emphasizes intuitive and emotional processes. Here we test a dual-process theory synthesizing these perspectives. More specifically, our theory associates utilitarian moral judgment (approving of harmful actions that maximize good consequences) with controlled cognitive processes and associates non-utilitarian moral judgment with automatic emotional responses. Consistent with this theory, we find that a cognitive load manipulation selectively interferes with utilitarian judgment. This interference effect provides direct evidence for the influence of controlled cognitive processes in moral judgment, and utilitarian moral judgment more specifically.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The effect of cognitive load on RT for utilitarian (black) and non-utilitarian (gray) moral judgment. Data shown for the entire group (n = 82). Error bars indicate standard error of the mean.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Effects of load on RT for high-utilitarian (n = 41) and low-utilitarian (n =41) groups.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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