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Social threat indirectly increases moral condemnation via thwarting fundamental social needs.

ABSTRACT: Individuals who experience threats to their social needs may attempt to avert further harm by condemning wrongdoers more severely. Three pre-registered studies tested whether threatened social esteem is associated with increased moral condemnation. In Study 1 (N = 381) participants played a game in which they were socially included or excluded and then evaluated the actions of moral wrongdoers. We observed an indirect effect: Exclusion increased social needs-threat, which in turn increased moral condemnation. Study 2 (N = 428) was a direct replication, and also showed this indirect effect. Both studies demonstrated the effect across five moral foundations, and was most pronounced for harm violations. Study 3 (N = 102) examined dispositional concerns about social needs threat, namely social anxiety, and showed a positive correlation between this trait and moral judgments. Overall, results suggest threatened social standing is linked to moral condemnation, presumably because moral wrongdoers pose a further threat when one's ability to cope is already compromised.

SUBMITTER: Henderson RK

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8571390 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Social threat indirectly increases moral condemnation via thwarting fundamental social needs.

Henderson Robert K RK Schnall Simone S

Scientific reports 20211105 1

Individuals who experience threats to their social needs may attempt to avert further harm by condemning wrongdoers more severely. Three pre-registered studies tested whether threatened social esteem is associated with increased moral condemnation. In Study 1 (N = 381) participants played a game in which they were socially included or excluded and then evaluated the actions of moral wrongdoers. We observed an indirect effect: Exclusion increased social needs-threat, which in turn increased moral ...[more]

PMID: 34741054

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Social threat indirectly increases moral condemnation via thwarting fundamental social needs.

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Social threat indirectly increases moral condemnation via thwarting fundamental social needs.

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