Construal Level Theory and Moral Judgments: How Thinking Abstractly Modifies Morality
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5334/jeps.413Keywords:
construal level theory, psychological distance, abstraction, moral judgments, moralityAbstract
Research based on construal level theory has shown that whether objects and events are construed as abstract or concrete is a major factor in influencing people’s moral judgments. The aim of this literature review is to describe and evaluate empirical research that has investigated the relationship between construal level and moral judgments. Although most reviewed studies show that abstract thinking leads to stronger moral judgments, inconsistencies exist and gaps in the literature remain. This is due to methodological limitations and differences in theoretical standpoints, which will subsequently be discussed. Suggestions for future research are offered.
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2017 The Author(s)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
JEPS is an open access journal. Authors who publish in the Journal of European Psychology Students agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access). Authors should, however, take into account APA's guidelines on posting work that is still in review (APA Publication Manual 6th Edition, p. 211) which state that the name of the publisher or the journal should not be mentioned during the submission process.