Saving five by killing one: Effects of in- vs. out-group membership on moral judgments of acts and omissions
2009 (English)Independent thesis Basic level (degree of Bachelor), 15 credits / 22,5 HE credits
Student thesis
Abstract [en]
This study examined if social distance, i.e. in- vs. out-group membership, had an effect on moral judgments of acts vs. omissions. 164 participants judged the morality of acts vs. omissions of lethal harm, that affected an in- vs. out-group member of the participant, in order to save five other people. The results showed that acts of lethal, but utilitarian, harm were judged more immoral than omissions of equivalent harm. It was also shown that if the victim was an in- group member of the participant the behavior was judged more immoral than if the victim was an out-group member of the participant. However, the acts and omissions of harm were not judged differently when the victim was an in.- vs. out-group member of the participant, indicating that this kind of social distance might not influence the moral judgment of acts and omissions.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
2009. , p. 27
Keywords [en]
moral judgment, act, omission, social distance, in-group, out-group
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:hig:diva-5065Archive number: V09-033OAI: oai:DiVA.org:hig-5065DiVA, id: diva2:232042
Presentation
(English)
Uppsok
Social and Behavioural Science, Law
Supervisors
Examiners
2009-10-022009-08-192009-10-02Bibliographically approved