When person-first language matters: Exploring how guilt and shame proneness influence perceptions of moral transgressions.
Presentation Type
Event
Project Type
Research in progress
Primary Department
Psychology
Description
This study examined how language impacts the perception of moral transgressions. Participants (N = 369) were randomly assigned to read moral transgressions described in different ways (e.g., the person who cheated, the cheater, the act of cheating) before rating the severity of the transgressions and recommending a punishment. Additionally, participants completed individual difference measures of guilt and shame proneness. Consistent with our hypotheses, language impacted the perceived severity and corresponding punishments recommended for moral transgressions. Contrary to our hypotheses, guilt and shame proneness did not moderate these relationships, but they did significantly predict the severity of judgments and punishments.
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When person-first language matters: Exploring how guilt and shame proneness influence perceptions of moral transgressions.
This study examined how language impacts the perception of moral transgressions. Participants (N = 369) were randomly assigned to read moral transgressions described in different ways (e.g., the person who cheated, the cheater, the act of cheating) before rating the severity of the transgressions and recommending a punishment. Additionally, participants completed individual difference measures of guilt and shame proneness. Consistent with our hypotheses, language impacted the perceived severity and corresponding punishments recommended for moral transgressions. Contrary to our hypotheses, guilt and shame proneness did not moderate these relationships, but they did significantly predict the severity of judgments and punishments.
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