TY - JOUR
T1 - Effects of anger, guilt, and envy on moral hypocrisy
AU - Polman, Evan
AU - Ruttan, Rachel L.
PY - 2012/1
Y1 - 2012/1
N2 - In the current article the authors examined the impact of specific emotions on moral hypocrisy, the tendency among people to judge others more severely than they judge themselves. In two studies, they found that (a) anger increased moral hypocrisy, (b) guilt eliminated moral hypocrisy, and (c) envy reversed moral hypocrisy. In particular, these findings were observed in two domains. In Study 1, participants responded to moral dilemmas describing unethical behavior and rated how acceptable it would be if others engaged in the unethical behavior, or alternatively, if they themselves engaged in the unethical behavior. In Study 2, participants were asked how much they would like to donate to research on cancer, or alternatively, how much they think others should donate. The results demonstrate that specific emotions influence moral decision making, even when real money is at stake, and that emotions of the same valence have opposing effects on moral judgment.
AB - In the current article the authors examined the impact of specific emotions on moral hypocrisy, the tendency among people to judge others more severely than they judge themselves. In two studies, they found that (a) anger increased moral hypocrisy, (b) guilt eliminated moral hypocrisy, and (c) envy reversed moral hypocrisy. In particular, these findings were observed in two domains. In Study 1, participants responded to moral dilemmas describing unethical behavior and rated how acceptable it would be if others engaged in the unethical behavior, or alternatively, if they themselves engaged in the unethical behavior. In Study 2, participants were asked how much they would like to donate to research on cancer, or alternatively, how much they think others should donate. The results demonstrate that specific emotions influence moral decision making, even when real money is at stake, and that emotions of the same valence have opposing effects on moral judgment.
KW - anger
KW - emotions
KW - envy
KW - guilt
KW - moral hypocrisy
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84855263941&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84855263941&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/0146167211422365
DO - 10.1177/0146167211422365
M3 - Article
C2 - 21918064
AN - SCOPUS:84855263941
SN - 0146-1672
VL - 38
SP - 129
EP - 139
JO - Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin
JF - Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin
IS - 1
ER -