Search resultsAlcohol, empathy, and morality: acute effects of alcohol consumption on affective empathy and moral decision-making
Title
Alcohol, empathy, and morality: acute effects of alcohol consumption on affective empathy and moral decision-making
Publication type
Journal Article
Year of Publication
2019
Authors
Date published
2019/07/09
ISBN
1432-2072
Keywords
Abstract
Hypothetical moral dilemmas, pitting characteristically utilitarian and non-utilitarian outcomes against each other, have played a central role in investigations of moral decision-making. Preferences for utilitarian over non-utilitarian responses have been explained by two contrasting hypotheses; one implicating increased deliberative reasoning, and the other implicating diminished harm aversion. In recent field experiments, these hypotheses have been investigated using alcohol intoxication to impair both social and cognitive functioning. These studies have found increased utilitarian responding, arguably as a result of alcohol impairing affective empathy.