Hypocrisy moderates self-interest bias in moral character judgments.
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| Title: | Hypocrisy moderates self-interest bias in moral character judgments. |
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| Authors: | Bocian, Konrad (AUTHOR), Myslinska Szarek, Katarzyna (AUTHOR), Miazek, Katarzyna (AUTHOR) |
| Source: | Journal of Social Psychology. 2026, Vol. 166 Issue 3, p279-294. 16p. |
| Subjects: | Hypocrisy, Self-interest, Cognitive bias, Social groups, Moral norms, Psychology, Goal (Psychology), Moral judgment |
| Abstract: | Self-interest bias describes an observer's tendency to judge moral transgression leniently when they benefit from it. However, what factors moderate the self-interest bias is an open empirical question. Here, we investigated to what extent hypocrisy moderates the self-interest bias. Preregistered Study 1a (N = 194) and replication in Study 1b (N = 193) demonstrated that observers' interest impacts moral character judgments of hypocritical transgressors. This effect was explained by observers' goal attainment due to transgression (Study 2, N = 713) and agreement to aid observers' or ingroup interests (Study 3, N = 634). Importantly, transgressors' hypocrisy moderated the impact of observers' interests in moral character judgments (Studies 2 & 3). In summary, when judging hypocritical transgressors, peoples' moral character judgments tend to be biased by their or their group's interests. However, in comparison to non-hypocritical transgressors, this impact is less pronounced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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| Database: | Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection |
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| Abstract: | Self-interest bias describes an observer's tendency to judge moral transgression leniently when they benefit from it. However, what factors moderate the self-interest bias is an open empirical question. Here, we investigated to what extent hypocrisy moderates the self-interest bias. Preregistered Study 1a (N = 194) and replication in Study 1b (N = 193) demonstrated that observers' interest impacts moral character judgments of hypocritical transgressors. This effect was explained by observers' goal attainment due to transgression (Study 2, N = 713) and agreement to aid observers' or ingroup interests (Study 3, N = 634). Importantly, transgressors' hypocrisy moderated the impact of observers' interests in moral character judgments (Studies 2 & 3). In summary, when judging hypocritical transgressors, peoples' moral character judgments tend to be biased by their or their group's interests. However, in comparison to non-hypocritical transgressors, this impact is less pronounced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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| ISSN: | 00224545 |
| DOI: | 10.1080/00224545.2024.2393093 |
