Reasoning and processing of behavioural and contextual information: influences on pre-judgement reasoning, post-judgement information selection and engagement, and moral behaviour

Powell, Nina Laurel (2013). Reasoning and processing of behavioural and contextual information: influences on pre-judgement reasoning, post-judgement information selection and engagement, and moral behaviour. University of Birmingham. Ph.D.

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Abstract

Recent research on moral judgements tends to emphasise the role of intuition, emotion and non-deliberative gut-reactions to moral violations. The aim of this thesis was to investigate instances during the judgement process and on resulting behaviour when deliberative consideration and processing of behavioural and contextual information (i.e., information beyond initial gut-reactions and intuitions) occurred. Specifically, this thesis examined the effects of reasoning about behavioural and contextual information pre-judgement, the desires and needs for and engagement with behavioural information and the effects of behavioural and contextual information on eliciting moral behaviour. Across seven experiments, I demonstrated (1) that age-related changes in the ability to reason about the means through which a negative outcome occurred influenced attributions of blameworthiness, (2) that postjudgement information selection and engagement differed depending on the moral violation judged, emotions elicited from the violations and the amount of reported epistemic certainty, and (3) that the presence of information about the outcome of a morally virtuous act influenced later helping behaviour. These findings suggest that deliberative reasoning and processing of behavioural and contextual information can occur and influence judgements and behaviour at different stages in the judgement process.

Type of Work:

Thesis (Doctorates > Ph.D.)

Award Type:

Doctorates > Ph.D.

Supervisor(s):