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The Effects of Wrongdoer's Characteristics and Moral Cleansing Method on Moral Evaluation

행위자 특성과 도덕적 정화방법이 행위자에 대한 도덕적 평가에 미치는 영향

  • 진승재 (광운대학교 산업심리학과 ) ;
  • 이형철 (광운대학교 산업심리학과 ) ;
  • 김신우 (광운대학교 산업심리학과 )
  • Received : 2022.08.20
  • Accepted : 2023.02.01
  • Published : 2023.06.30

Abstract

This study tested whether the evaluation of moral cleansing behavior following an immoral act depends on the resources available to the wrongdoer. To this end, resource availability was manipulated by the wrongdoer's characteristics (socioeconomic status vs. physical health condition) and type of moral cleansing (donation vs. volunteer work), and participants rated the pain of the moral cleansing behavior, hypocrisy, and forgivability. Study 1 presents a scenario where a wrongdoer, either high or low in socioeconomic status, conducts moral cleansing via donation or volunteer work. Participants judged donation by those high in socioeconomic status to be not so painful, hypocritical, and unforgivable. Study 2 described a scenario in which a wrongdoer, either physically strong or weak, performs an act of moral cleansing either by donation or volunteer work. Participants considered those sickly wrongdoers' volunteer work to be painful, less hypocritical, and (compared with other conditions) more forgivable. Mediation analyses showed that in both Studies 1 and 2, pain in moral cleansing influenced the hypocrisy judgment which, in turn, affected perceived forgivability. These results indicate that, even for the same expiatory behavior, moral judgment depends on the actor's available resources. That is, people believe that moral cleansing should involve pain; otherwise, the act is hypocritical and unforgivable.

본 연구는 부도덕한 행동 이후에 발생하는 정화행동에 대한 도덕적 평가가 행위자의 자원 가용성에 따라 달라지는지를 검증했다. 이를 위해 행위자 특성(사회경제적 수준, 신체건강 수준)을 달리하여 도덕적 정화방법(기부, 봉사)에 따른 자원 가용성을 조작했으며, 참가자들은 도덕적 정화행동에 따른 고통, 위선의 정도, 그리고 용서 가능성을 평정했다. 연구 1에서는 사회경제적 수준이 높거나 낮은 사람이 기부 혹은 봉사를 통해 도덕적 정화행동을 하는 시나리오를 제시했다. 그 결과 참가자들은 부유한 사람의 기부는 고통스럽지 않았을 것이며, 위선적이고 용서하기 어렵다고 판단했다. 연구 2에서는 신체가 건강하거나 병약한 사람이 기부 혹은 봉사를 통해 잘못을 정화하는 내용을 제시했다. 그 결과 병약한 사람의 봉사활동은 고통스러웠을 것이며, 덜 위선적이며 (다른 조건에 비해) 용서 가능성을 높게 평가했다. 매개분석 결과 연구 1, 2 모두에서 정화행동의 고통이 클수록 위선을 약하게 판단하며, 이는 용서 가능성을 높이는 매개효과가 나타났다. 이 결과들은 동일한 정화행위라도 행위자의 자원 가용성에 따라 도덕적 판단이 달라짐을 보여준다. 즉, 사람들은 도덕적 정화행동은 고통을 수반해야 하며 그렇지 않은 경우 그 행위는 위선적이며 용서하기 어렵다고 평가함을 알수 있다.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

이 논문은 2021년도 광운대학교 교내 학술연구비 지원에 의해 연구되었음.

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