title: Foreign language affects the contribution of intentions and outcomes to moral judgment.
abstract: We examine whether the use of a foreign language, as opposed to the native language, influences the relative weight intentions versus outcomes carry in moral evaluations. In Study 1, participants were presented with actions that had positive outcomes but were motivated by dubious intentions, while in Study 2 with actions that had negative outcomes but were motivated by positive intentions. Participants received the materials either in their native or a foreign language. Foreign language prompted more positive moral evaluations in Study 1 and less positive evaluations in Study 2. These results show that foreign language reduces the relative weight placed on intentions versus outcomes. We discuss several theoretical accounts that are consistent with the results such as that foreign language attenuates emotions (triggered by intentions) or it depletes cognitive resources.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology and Cognitive Sciences, University of Trento, Italy. Electronic address: j.geipel@vumc.nl.
authors.forename: Janet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Geipel
authors.affiliation: Department of Economics and Management, University of Trento, Italy; Research Centre for Decision Making, Leeds Business School, Leeds University, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Constantinos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hadjichristidis
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology and Cognitive Sciences, University of Trento, Italy.
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Surian
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D007600:Judgment; D007802:Language; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009014:Morals; D012938:Social Perception; D013067:Speech Perception; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Cognitive depletion; Emotion; Foreign language; Intention; Moral judgment; Outcome bias