Effects of Moral Licensing on High-Cost and Low-Cost Helping Behaviors

Authors

Presenter(s)

Kaitlin E. Boyd

Files

Description

The present study examines the role of cost to self in moral licensing. Previous research shows that people who recall past moral behavior become morally licensed. That is, they are less likely to engage in future high-cost helping behaviors because they feel morally affirmed (Conway & Peetz, 2012). However, these findings are limited to contexts in which participants are asked their likelihood to engage in helping behaviors that are rather costly to the self (e.g., buying someone lunch). Thus far, research has not studied the effect of moral licensing on helping that is low in cost to the self (e.g., giving someone a few cents). Consistent with past research, it is predicted that moral licensing will lead to less helping in high-cost situations. Additionally, we are interested in whether the recall task also reduces helping in low-cost situations, or when the cost-to-self is low.

Publication Date

4-9-2014

Project Designation

Honors Thesis

Primary Advisor

Erin O'Mara

Primary Advisor's Department

Psychology

Keywords

Stander Symposium project

Disciplines

Arts and Humanities | Business | Education | Engineering | Life Sciences | Medicine and Health Sciences | Physical Sciences and Mathematics | Social and Behavioral Sciences

Recommended Citation

"Effects of Moral Licensing on High-Cost and Low-Cost Helping Behaviors" (2014). Stander Symposium Projects. 438.
https://ecommons.udayton.edu/stander_posters/438