Experimental Study on the Impact of Public Situations on Moral Dilemma Decision-Making
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Research Overview This study used the CNI (consequence, norm, inaction) model to systematically explore the impact mechanisms of public situations on individual moral dilemma decision-making through two experiments.
Experimental Study on the Impact of Public Situations on Moral Dilemma Decision-Making
Research Overview This study used the CNI (consequence, norm, inaction) model to systematically explore the impact mechanisms of public situations on individual moral dilemma decision-making through two experiments. The research aimed to reveal the psychological processes of individual moral judgment in different social contexts.
Experimental Design Experiment 1 used a single-factor between-subjects design, randomly dividing 60 college students into individual judgment group and observation group. The observation group had two experimenters as observers, but participants were told the observers were only for equipment monitoring. Participants needed to complete judgment tasks for 48 moral dilemmas based on 12 basic story backgrounds, combined according to moral norms (prohibited/recommended actions) and outcomes (benefits outweigh costs/costs outweigh benefits).
Experiment 2 used a three-group design (individual group, parallel group, common group) with 175 college students. The parallel and common groups were paired but prohibited from verbal communication. The experiment added pressure perception scale and social desirability scale measurements to assess participants' psychological states.
Research Results Experiment 1 results showed no significant differences in moral decision-making between individual and observation groups, and no group differences in CNI model parameters. However, both groups showed consistent response tendencies to the four moral dilemmas: highest acceptance for recommended beneficial actions, followed by recommended harmful actions, then prohibited harmful actions, with prohibited beneficial actions having the lowest acceptance.
Experiment 2 found that parallel and common groups had significantly lower acceptance of dilemma behaviors than the individual group. CNI model analysis showed that parallel and common groups exhibited stronger action tendencies. After reaching consensus decisions, the common group showed significantly increased sensitivity to moral norms, with lower pressure perception and higher social desirability.
Mechanism Analysis The ineffectiveness of observation situations may be due to differences between laboratory observers and everyday strangers, and lack of effective social interaction. In parallel and common judgment situations, although there was no direct communication, information display still produced social influence, leading to more conservative decisions.
Decreased decision confidence in the common group may stem from conflicts between internal beliefs and social expectations, ultimately leading individuals to compromise to conform to social norms. From the CNI model perspective, conservative decisions in public situations are not simply enhanced deontological judgment but may involve responsibility diffusion effects.
Theoretical Significance This study challenges the individualistic orientation of traditional moral decision-making research, emphasizing the importance of social contextual factors. The results indicate that moral decisions are not only influenced by internal moral cognition but are also significantly moderated by social interaction and group pressure.
Practical Implications 1. Team decision-making needs to guard against responsibility diffusion effects and establish clear individual responsibility mechanisms 2. Moral education should focus on real situation training, cultivating independent judgment ability rather than social conformity tendencies 3. Individuals should enhance moral self-awareness, distinguishing between genuine moral motivations and social desirability needs 4. Society should create supportive environments, reducing excessive social pressure that inhibits moral autonomy
Research Limitations and Prospects This study mainly used laboratory situations; future research could extend to more realistic moral decision-making scenarios. Additionally, further exploration is needed on the differences in public situation effects across different cultural backgrounds.
Conclusion Public situations have significant impacts on moral dilemma decision-making, but these effects vary by situation type. Parallel and common judgment situations enhance decision conservatism, while simple observation situations have limited effects. The research results provide important theoretical basis for understanding moral decision-making mechanisms in social contexts.
