The CAG polymorphism in androgen receptor (AR) gene impacts the moral permissibility of harmful behavior in females.
The moral permissibility of harm is strikingly varied among individuals. In light of the connection between testosterone levels and utilitarian moral judgment, this study examined to what extent a CAG polymorphism in the androgen receptor gene, a genetic polymorphism with the ability to regulate testosterone function, contributes to individual differences in moral judgment. Four hundred and thirty-nine Chinese Han participants completed permissibility ratings of harm in moral dilemmas and moral transgression scenarios. Results showed a significant association between the CAG polymorphism and moral permissibility of harm in females. Females with more copies of the S allele, which is associated with higher availability of testosterone, were more likely to judge harmful utilitarian acts and unintentionally harmful acts as permissible, while these effects were absent in males. The findings provide the first evidence for a link between the androgen receptor gene and moral judgment and highlight the role of androgens in moral foundations.
Shaanxi Key Laboratory for Animal Conservation, Northwest University, Xi'an 710069, China; Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China (Ministry of Education), College of Life Science, Northwest University, Xi'an 710069, China.
Pingyuan
P
Gong
Shaanxi Key Laboratory for Animal Conservation, Northwest University, Xi'an 710069, China.
Pengpeng
P
Fang
Shaanxi Key Laboratory for Animal Conservation, Northwest University, Xi'an 710069, China.
Xing
X
Yang
Shaanxi Key Laboratory for Animal Conservation, Northwest University, Xi'an 710069, China.
Wenzhao
W
Ru
Shaanxi Key Laboratory for Animal Conservation, Northwest University, Xi'an 710069, China.
Bei
B
Wang
Shaanxi Key Laboratory for Animal Conservation, Northwest University, Xi'an 710069, China; Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China (Ministry of Education), College of Life Science, Northwest University, Xi'an 710069, China.
Xiaocai
X
Gao
China Center for Special Economic Zone Research, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China; Research Center for Brain Function and Psychological Science, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China. Electronic address: aislingljt@gmail.com.
Jinting
J
Liu
D000483:Alleles; D000728:Androgens / Q000378:metabolism; D044466:Asian People / Q000235:genetics*; D001519:Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D002681:China; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D006801:Humans; D007600:Judgment / Q000941:ethics / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D009014:Morals; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011944:Receptors, Androgen / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D013739:Testosterone / Q000378:metabolism; D018911:Trinucleotide Repeats; D055815:Young Adult
C410798:AR protein, human; D000728:Androgens; D011944:Receptors, Androgen; D013739:Testosterone
Androgen receptor gene; Moral judgment; Moral permissibility; Testosterone; Utilitarian acts