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Behavior in Situations Simulating the Tragedy of the Commons is Predicted by Moral Judgment

Clarkson, Evan M
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=toledo1650887469850469

Abstract Details

2022, Doctor of Philosophy, University of Toledo, Psychology - Experimental.
Philosophers have long questioned the nature of morality and our moral sensibilities. Definitive answers have been difficult to come by. In response, psychologists have gathered mountains of empirical data to understand how these sensibilities are realized as moral beliefs or as moral judgments. Traditionally, researchers have required people to provide judgments about what is morally appropriate within morally charged hypothetical situations. Known as moral dilemmas, people’s judgments are taken to be informative about their underlying ethical beliefs. While this common practice has produced powerful insights about our moral sensibilities, some have questioned whether the collected data is predictive of our real-world behaviors in morally significant situations. Thus, researchers have called for investigations that measure moral behavior, or at least associate behaviors, with moral judgments. While some investigations have used creative methods to target behavior, many have taken to studying people’s behavior in games, associating it with their moral judgments or beliefs. In this quickly growing area that studies moral behavior in games, researchers have yet to investigate how people’s moral judgments predict behavior in games that simulate the tragedy of the commons. The particular importance of commons dilemmas comes to light when considering not only some influential arguments of past thinkers about the superiority of rational moral theories but also, the growing threat commons dilemmas pose to an ever-more globalized world, where viral pandemics and climate change have exerted increased pressure on human society. In recognition of these facts, a new package of research was initiated to investigate whether certain types of moral responders (and patterns of moral judgment) predict behavior in game situations that simulate commons dilemmas. Within this package, two pilot studies and three experiments were performed to test two key premises. First, do moral judgments predict behavior in games that simulate the tragedy of the commons? Second, do rational moral judgments predict behaviors that are less susceptible to bad outcomes, that is, a tragedy for the commons? The answer to the first question is unequivocal in the affirmative, as moral judgments predicted behavior in commons games. Answers to the second question are more difficult to come by. At the very least, rational moral judgments predict behavior that is better suited toward avoiding tragedies of the commons at least some of the time (in specific instances). Other types of moral judgments (which are often argued to be less rational) also predicted an increase in behaviors likely to avoid tragedies of the commons. The conclusions that can be drawn and the future directions that can be made will be discussed.
John Jasper, PhD (Committee Chair)
Stephen Christman, PhD (Committee Member)
Jason Rose, PhD (Committee Member)
Andrew Geers, PhD (Committee Member)
John Sarnecki, PhD (Committee Member)
136 p.
Experimental Psychology
Moral Psychology; Tragedy of the Commons; Cooperation

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Clarkson, E. M. (2022). Behavior in Situations Simulating the Tragedy of the Commons is Predicted by Moral Judgment [Doctoral dissertation, University of Toledo]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=toledo1650887469850469

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Clarkson, Evan. Behavior in Situations Simulating the Tragedy of the Commons is Predicted by Moral Judgment. 2022. University of Toledo, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=toledo1650887469850469.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Clarkson, Evan. "Behavior in Situations Simulating the Tragedy of the Commons is Predicted by Moral Judgment." Doctoral dissertation, University of Toledo, 2022. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=toledo1650887469850469

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

toledo1650887469850469
190
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