Moral emotions as determinants of third-party punishment: Anger, guilt, and the functions of altruistic sanctions
Third-party punishment has recently received attention as an explanation for human altruism. Feelings of anger in response to norm violations are assumed to motivate third-party sanctions, yet there is only sparse and indirect support for this idea. We investigated the impact of both anger and guilt...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Cambridge University Press
2009-12-01
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| Series: | Judgment and Decision Making |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S1930297500001121/type/journal_article |
| _version_ | 1797695969886732288 |
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| author | Rob M. A. Nelissen Marcel Zeelenberg |
| author_facet | Rob M. A. Nelissen Marcel Zeelenberg |
| author_sort | Rob M. A. Nelissen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Third-party punishment has recently received attention as an explanation for human altruism. Feelings of anger in response to norm violations are assumed to motivate third-party sanctions, yet there is only sparse and indirect support for this idea. We investigated the impact of both anger and guilt feelings on third-party sanctions. In two studies both emotions were independently manipulated. Results show that anger and guilt independently constitute sufficient but not necessary causes of punishment. Low levels of punishment are observed only when neither emotion is elicited. We discuss the implications of these findings for the functions of altruistic sanctions. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T03:19:58Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-34b8ad668c414ceaad6a1df2810ac451 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1930-2975 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T03:19:58Z |
| publishDate | 2009-12-01 |
| publisher | Cambridge University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Judgment and Decision Making |
| spelling | doaj.art-34b8ad668c414ceaad6a1df2810ac4512023-09-03T14:02:37ZengCambridge University PressJudgment and Decision Making1930-29752009-12-01454355310.1017/S1930297500001121Moral emotions as determinants of third-party punishment: Anger, guilt, and the functions of altruistic sanctionsRob M. A. Nelissen0Marcel Zeelenberg1Tilburg University, the NetherlandsTilburg University, the NetherlandsThird-party punishment has recently received attention as an explanation for human altruism. Feelings of anger in response to norm violations are assumed to motivate third-party sanctions, yet there is only sparse and indirect support for this idea. We investigated the impact of both anger and guilt feelings on third-party sanctions. In two studies both emotions were independently manipulated. Results show that anger and guilt independently constitute sufficient but not necessary causes of punishment. Low levels of punishment are observed only when neither emotion is elicited. We discuss the implications of these findings for the functions of altruistic sanctions.https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S1930297500001121/type/journal_articlethird-party punishmentsocial normsemotionsdecision-making |
| spellingShingle | Rob M. A. Nelissen Marcel Zeelenberg Moral emotions as determinants of third-party punishment: Anger, guilt, and the functions of altruistic sanctions Judgment and Decision Making third-party punishment social norms emotions decision-making |
| title | Moral emotions as determinants of third-party punishment: Anger, guilt, and the functions of altruistic sanctions |
| title_full | Moral emotions as determinants of third-party punishment: Anger, guilt, and the functions of altruistic sanctions |
| title_fullStr | Moral emotions as determinants of third-party punishment: Anger, guilt, and the functions of altruistic sanctions |
| title_full_unstemmed | Moral emotions as determinants of third-party punishment: Anger, guilt, and the functions of altruistic sanctions |
| title_short | Moral emotions as determinants of third-party punishment: Anger, guilt, and the functions of altruistic sanctions |
| title_sort | moral emotions as determinants of third party punishment anger guilt and the functions of altruistic sanctions |
| topic | third-party punishment social norms emotions decision-making |
| url | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S1930297500001121/type/journal_article |
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