Alcohol, empathy, and morality: acute effects of alcohol consumption on affective empathy and moral decision-making.

ABSTRACT:

Rationale

Hypothetical moral dilemmas, pitting characteristically utilitarian and non-utilitarian outcomes against each other, have played a central role in investigations of moral decision-making. Preferences for utilitarian over non-utilitarian responses have been explained by two contrasting hypotheses; one implicating increased deliberative reasoning, and the other implicating diminished harm aversion. In recent field experiments, these hypotheses have been investigated using alcohol intoxication to impair both social and cognitive functioning. These studies have found increased utilitarian responding, arguably as a result of alcohol impairing affective empathy.

Objectives

The present research expands existing investigations by examining the acute effects of alcohol on a

SUBMITTER: Francis KB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6892760 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature