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Power decreases the moral condemnation of disgust-inducing transgressions

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  • Mooijman, Marlon
  • Kouchaki, Maryam
  • Beall, Erica
  • Graham, Jesse

Abstract

Across seven studies (five preregistered), we show that power reduces the degree to which people morally condemn transgressions that elicit disgust. This effect is explained by power reducing the subjective experience of disgust instead of the categorization of behaviors as disgusting. Power does not reliably reduce other negative emotions besides disgust and the impact of power on disgust and moral judgment is attenuated when participants are instructed to appraise impure behaviors as dangerous. These findings challenge the idea that power always increases the severity of moral judgments, shed light on the specific mechanisms by which power colors our judgments of moral right and wrong, and expand theorizing on the impact of power on emotions and moral judgment.

Suggested Citation

  • Mooijman, Marlon & Kouchaki, Maryam & Beall, Erica & Graham, Jesse, 2020. "Power decreases the moral condemnation of disgust-inducing transgressions," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 161(C), pages 79-92.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jobhdp:v:161:y:2020:i:c:p:79-92
    DOI: 10.1016/j.obhdp.2020.04.005
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Mooijman, Marlon & van Dijk, Wilco W. & van Dijk, Eric & Ellemers, Naomi, 2019. "Leader power, power stability, and interpersonal trust," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 152(C), pages 1-10.
    2. Bunmi O Olatunji & Bieke David Puncochar & Rebecca Cox, 2016. "Effects of Experienced Disgust on Morally-Relevant Judgments," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 11(8), pages 1-19, August.
    3. Brion, Sebastien & Anderson, Cameron, 2013. "The loss of power: How illusions of alliance contribute to powerholders’ downfall," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 121(1), pages 129-139.
    4. Fast, Nathanael J. & Sivanathan, Niro & Mayer, Nicole D. & Galinsky, Adam D., 2012. "Power and overconfident decision-making," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 117(2), pages 249-260.
    5. Schaerer, Michael & du Plessis, Christilene & Yap, Andy J. & Thau, Stefan, 2018. "Low power individuals in social power research: A quantitative review, theoretical framework, and empirical test," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 149(C), pages 73-96.
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    Keywords

    Power; Disgust; Moral judgment;
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