When it takes a bad person to do the right thing

Three studies demonstrate that morally praiseworthy behavior can signal negative information about an agent’s character. In particular, consequentialist decisions such as sacrificing one life to save an even greater number of lives can lead to unfavorable character evaluations, even when they are vi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Cognition 2013-02, Vol.126 (2), p.326-334
Main Authors: Uhlmann, Eric Luis, Zhu, Luke (Lei), Tannenbaum, David
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Act-person dissociations
Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Biological and medical sciences
Business administration
Character
Children
Consequentialism
domain_shs.gestion.man-re
Empathy
Ethical Theory
Evaluation
Female
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Hospitals
Humanities and Social Sciences
Humans
Judgement
Judgment
Leadership
Male
Middle Aged
Miscellaneous
Moral Values
Morals
Motivation
Person-centered moral judgments
Personality
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychology. Psychophysiology
Social psychology
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Summary:Three studies demonstrate that morally praiseworthy behavior can signal negative information about an agent’s character. In particular, consequentialist decisions such as sacrificing one life to save an even greater number of lives can lead to unfavorable character evaluations, even when they are viewed as the preferred course of action. In Study 1, throwing a dying man overboard to prevent a lifeboat from sinking was perceived as the morally correct course of action, but led to negative aspersions about the motivations and personal character of individuals who carried out such an act. In Studies 2 and 3, a hospital administrator who decided not to fund an expensive operation to save a child (instead buying needed hospital equipment) was seen as making a pragmatic and morally praiseworthy decision, but also as deficient in empathy and moral character.
ISSN:0010-0277
1873-7838
DOI:10.1016/j.cognition.2012.10.005