Negative affective states and moral judgment: A closer look at their joint involvement

ABSTRACT

This paper considers two studies that address negative affective states and moral reasoning while taking the Defining Issues Tests (DIT, DIT2). Both studies confirmed earlier findings that the DIT dilemma, ‘Heinz and the Drug,’ and the DIT2 dilemma, ‘Famine,’ are related to increased anger and sadness and decreased moral reasoning. Similar findings were observed in the context of a video consideration of a real-life dilemma paralleling these two dilemmas (Study 1). Comparable findings pertaining to Famine were also observed among three samples of different moral judgment developmental levels, further implicating the role of dilemma content where the trends observed are concerned (Study 2). Overall, both studies illustrated similar patterns of affective states and moral reasoning across all considered DIT/DIT2 dilemmas thereby offering further evidence of the joint involvement of rational deliberation and affective states in the consideration of DIT/DIT2 dilemmas.

KEYWORDS:

• Moral reasoning
• moral judgment development
• negative affect

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

W. Pitt Derryberry

W. Pitt Derryberry, Ph.D. is a Professor of Psychology and Co-Department Head at Western Kentucky University. His research interests pertain to socio-cognitive development during adolescence and the college years with specific emphases on the development of moral judgment and self-understanding.

Sarah Richardson

Sarah Richardson is a graduate student in the Department of Psychology’s Ed.S School Psychology Graduate program at Western Kentucky University and served as one of Dr.Derryberry’s graduate research assistants.

Anna Simpson

Anna Simpson is a 2020 graduate of the Gatton Academy for Math and Science at Western Kentucky University. She served as an undergraduate research assistant for Dr. Derryberry.

Megan Wilson

Megan Wilson is a 2017 graduate of the Department of Psychology’s MA graduate program at Western Kentucky University. She served as one of Dr. Derryberry’s graduate research assistants.

Andrea Ambam

Andrea Ambam graduated from Western Kentucky University in 2019 with a BA in Psychology. She served as an undergraduate research assistant for Dr. Derryberry.