Intentionality attributions about perfect and imperfect duty violations.
Intentionality attributions were explored by drawing on the distinction between perfect and imperfect moral duties. Previous research has shown that perfect duty violations carry greater attributional weight than imperfect duty violations (Trafimow & Trafimow, 1999; Trafimow, Bromgard, Finlay, & Ketelaar, 2005). In Studies 1 and 2, the distinction between perfect and imperfect duties was replicated with intentionality judgments, and perfect duty violations received higher intentionality attributions than imperfect duty violations. In Study 3 this effect was reversed by manipulating information about an agent's mental intentions or plans to perform a behavior. That is, participants attributed less intentionality to perfect duty violations compared to imperfect duty violations when a mental intention to perform the behavior was absent.
Hughes
Jamie S
JS
New Mexico State University, Department of Psychology, P.O. Box 30001, MSC 3452, Las Cruces, NM 88003, USA. jshughes@nmsu.edu
Trafimow
David
D
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D008297:Male; D028681:Moral Obligations; D012919:Social Behavior; D012938:Social Perception; D015206:Southwestern United States