Separate and unequal: Moral domains differ in corresponding social judgments of others

Abstract

Current research on morality supports the idea that the moral landscape is comprised of several domains. However, the extent to which these domains may be thought of as equivalent when used as the basis for forming impressions or making social judgments is not yet understood. Past literature suggests that there may be notable differences in the evolutionary and social development of different moral behaviors, which raises questions about how actions based in different domains may be interpreted and judged by others. Across three studies, we had participants evaluate social targets based on behaviors pertaining to the moral domains. Results showed that correspondent inferences, attributional bias, and willingness to cooperate differed across domains. Interestingly, the Equality and Property domains emerged distinct. This research contributes to contemporary morality literature and proposes a new direction for understanding how morality plays a role in social judgment.