Zheng Mufan, Wang Liying, Tian Yueying
Department of Psychology, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China.
Behav Sci (Basel). 2025 Mar 13;15(3):361. doi: 10.3390/bs15030361.
This study aimed to investigate the impact of cognitive load on moral judgments while incorporating action propensities and collective interests as variables. Study 1 ( = 102) used the dot matrix memory task to manipulate cognitive load, and participants made moral choices in action dilemmas and omission dilemmas. The findings revealed that when confronted with action moral dilemmas, participants in the high-cognitive load group exhibited a greater inclination towards utilitarian responses compared to those in the low-load group. However, cognitive load did not affect utilitarian choices in omission moral dilemmas. Study 2 ( = 100) further introduced the identities of protagonists in dilemmas involving conflicts between collective and individual interests. When facing a collective-individual interest conflict, participants under high cognitive load were more inclined to prioritize collective interests over individual interests compared to those under low load. Additionally, participants were more likely to choose collective interests in omission moral dilemmas than in action dilemmas. The impact of cognitive load on moral judgments was also influenced by the identities of the protagonists.
本研究旨在探讨认知负荷对道德判断的影响，同时将行动倾向和集体利益作为变量纳入研究。研究1（N = 102）使用点阵记忆任务来操纵认知负荷，参与者在行动困境和不作为困境中做出道德选择。研究结果显示，在面对行动道德困境时，高认知负荷组的参与者比低负荷组的参与者表现出更倾向于功利主义的反应。然而，认知负荷并未影响不作为道德困境中的功利主义选择。研究2（N = 100）进一步引入了涉及集体与个人利益冲突的困境中主角的身份。当面临集体-个人利益冲突时，与低负荷组相比，高认知负荷下的参与者更倾向于将集体利益置于个人利益之上。此外，参与者在不作为道德困境中比在行动困境中更有可能选择集体利益。认知负荷对道德判断的影响也受到主角身份的影响。
