The role of culture and language in moral decision-making

Abstract

The present study aimed to investigate the effect of cultural and language factors in moral decision-making in Hindi–English bilinguals in comparison with English monolinguals living in Australia. The study included 166 Hindi–English bilingual participants who completed the survey in either their first or second language, and a comparison group of 127 English monolingual participants. Participants were presented with six hypothetical moral dilemmas (original trolley/footbridge), Waterpark (impersonal/personal), Family Game Show (impersonal/personal) requiring them to either save the lives or winnings of five people by sacrificing the lives or winnings of one person or not and to make moral judgments about these decisions. A cultural effect was found in moral decision-making as individuals from a Western background were more likely to engage in utilitarian decision-making, and rate it as more appropriate, than those from an Indian background to the monetary-loss Waterpark and Family Game Show dilemmas. In addition, similarities were found in decision-making choices to the trolley and footbridge dilemmas in the two cultural groups. Overall, no significant foreign language effect was found in the Hindi–English bilinguals. The foreign language effect may not extend to more proficient second language learners or acculturated bilingual speakers.

Appendix

Moral dilemmas

Dilemma 1 trolley/footbridge (impersonal)

A runaway train is headed down a railway track towards five workmen who stand in its path and will be killed if the train is not diverted.

You happen to be located near a lever, and the only way to save their lives is to pull the lever. This will direct the train to another path however this will kill one other railway workman. Should you pull the lever to save the lives of the five workmen?

Dilemma 1 trolley/footbridge (personal)

A runaway train is headed down a railway track towards five workmen who stand in its path and will be killed if the train is not stopped. You are standing on a footbridge over the tracks, which is in between the approaching train and the workmen. You happen to be next to a very large man and the only way to stop the incoming train is to push him off the bridge and onto the tracks. This will save the lives of the five workmen however this will kill the large man. Should you push the large man off the bridge in order to save the lives of the five workmen?

Dilemma 2 Water Park game show (impersonal)

You are a member of the audience at a Water Park game show. Five contestants have earned $10,000 prize money each by completing water activity tasks over several rounds. In order to keep their winnings, they must not fall into the pool of water underneath them. Suddenly a large swinging ball is headed in their direction and if nothing is done, they will all be knocked into the pool of water, and lose their winnings.

You are sitting in the front row of the audience and have been selected to take part in the show. On your seat is a switch that will direct the swinging ball onto another path however one contestant who has also earned $10,000 prize money will fall into the pool of water and lose their winnings. Should you press the switch in order to save the winnings of the five contestants?

Dilemma 2 Water Park game show (personal)

You are a member of the audience at a Water Park game show. Five contestants have earned $10,000 prize money each by completing water activity tasks over several rounds. In order to keep their winnings, they must not fall into the pool of water underneath them. Suddenly a large swinging ball is headed in their direction and if nothing is done, they will all be knocked into the pool of water and lose their winnings. You are sitting in the front row of the audience and have been selected to take part in the show. The only way to save the five contestants is to push another contestant, who has also earned $10,000 in prize money, into the pool of water that will result in them losing their winnings. Should you push the contestant into the water in order to save the winnings of the other five contestants?

Dilemma 3 family game show (impersonal)

You are a member of the audience on a T.V quiz show. A family of five has earned $10,000 each in prize money and have reached the final round in the game. In order to keep their winnings, they must remain on their platform and avoid falling down a chute. Suddenly, the platform on which all family members are standing on begins to open, and if not stopped will cause them to fall down the chute.

You are sitting in the front row of the audience and have been selected to take part in the show. By pressing a switch on your seat, you will stop the family from falling down the chute. However, in the process another contestant’s platform will open up causing them to fall down instead and they will lose their $10,000 winnings. Should you press the switch in order to save the winnings of the family?

Dilemma 3 family game show (personal)

You are a member of the audience on a TV quiz show. A family of five has earned $10,000 each in prize money and have reached the final round in the game. In order to keep their winnings, they must remain on their platform and avoid falling down a chute. Suddenly, the platform on which all family members are standing on begins to open and if not stopped will cause them to fall down the chute. You are sitting in the front row of the audience and have been selected to take part in the show. The only way to save the family of five is to push another contestant who has also earned $10,000 prize money down the chute that will result in them losing their winnings. Should you push the contestant in order to save the winnings of the family?