Deontological Dilemma Response Tendencies and Sensorimotor Representations of Harm to Others.

ABSTRACT: The dual process model of moral decision-making suggests that decisions to reject causing harm on moral dilemmas (where causing harm saves lives) reflect concern for others. Recently, some theorists have suggested such decisions actually reflect self-focused concern about causing harm, rather than witnessing others suffering. We examined brain activity while participants witnessed needles pierce another person's hand, versus similar non-painful stimuli. More than a month later, participants completed moral dilemmas where causing harm either did or did not maximize outcomes. We employed process dissociation to independently assess harm-rejection (deontological) and outcome-maximization (utilitarian) response tendencies. Activity in the posterior inferior frontal cortex (pIFC) while particip

SUBMITTER: Christov-Moore L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5733021 | biostudies-literature | 2017

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature