Moral Character in Person Perception

Goodwin, Geoffrey P.

doi:10.1177/0963721414550709

Cited by 221 publications

(197 citation statements)

References 33 publications

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“…Our results further demonstrate the centrality of apparent competence and morality to social outcomes (29,39), and support the idea that sociability and morality are distinct components of social warmth (25,40). The conflicting effects of attractiveness on interest and good scientist judgments indicate that, although the stereotypical scientist may be an impartial truth seeker with limited personal appeal (23,31), people partly treat science communication as a form of entertainment, where emotional impact and aesthetic appeal are desirable qualities (41).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 73%

Facial appearance affects science communication

Gheorghiu

Callan

Skylark

2017

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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First impressions based on facial appearance predict many important social outcomes. We investigated whether such impressions also influence the communication of scientific findings to lay audiences, a process that shapes public beliefs, opinion, and policy. First, we investigated the traits that engender interest in a scientist's work, and those that create the impression of a "good scientist" who does high-quality research. Apparent competence and morality were positively related to both interest and quality judgments, whereas attractiveness boosted interest but decreased perceived quality. Next, we had members of the public choose real science news stories to read or watch and found that people were more likely to choose items that were paired with "interestinglooking" scientists, especially when selecting video-based communications. Finally, we had people read real science news items and found that the research was judged to be of higher quality when paired with researchers who look like "good scientists." Our findings offer insights into the social psychology of science, and indicate a source of bias in the dissemination of scientific findings to broader society.science communication | impression formation | social cognition

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 73%

Facial appearance affects science communication

Gheorghiu

Callan

Skylark

2017

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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“…However, the other moral components may be similarly or more relevant when other target-groups are considered. For instance, it has been shown that determining whether someone is honest and trustworthy largely predicts responses towards a wide range of social targets (Brambilla & Leach, 2014; see also Goodwin, 2015). Thus, while moral purity is especially relevant for determining attitudes towards sexual minorities, community and autonomy concerns are highly relevant for other social targets, such racial groups (Haidt & Kesebir, 2010).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Strengthening Purity: Moral Purity as a Mediator of Direct and Extended Cross-Group Friendships on Sexual Prejudice

Vezzali

Brambilla

Giovannini

et al. 2016

Journal of Homosexuality

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The present research investigated whether enhanced perceptions of moral purity drive the effects of intergroup cross-group friendships on the intentions to interact with homosexuals. High-school students (N = 639) reported their direct and extended cross-group friendships with homosexuals as well as their beliefs regarding the moral character of the sexual minority. Participants further reported their desire to interact with homosexuals in the future. Results showed that both face-to-face encounters and extended contact with homosexuals increased their perceived moral purity, which in turn fostered more positive behavioral intentions. Results further revealed the specific role of moral purity in this sense, as differential perceptions along other moral domains (autonomy and community) had no mediation effects on behavioral tendencies toward homosexuals. The importance of these findings for improving intergroup relations is discussed, together with the importance of integrating research on intergroup contact and morality.

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“…If so, it raises the question of whether the communal-agentic distinction offers a more parsimonious explanation for gender differences in negotiator ethics than moral identity. On the other hand, recent work has begun to distinguish warmth and sociability from morality (Goodwin, 2015), suggesting the answer is not so straightforward. Future research should explore the overlap between moral and communal identities.…”

Section: Avenues For Future Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

A social-cognitive approach to understanding gender differences in negotiator ethics: The role of moral identity

Kennedy

Kray

2017

Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes

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a b s t r a c tTo date, gender differences in ethics have received little theoretical attention. We utilize a socialcognitive framework to explain why these differences emerge and when women engage in less unethical negotiating behavior than do men. We propose that, relative to men's, women's stronger moral identities suppress unethical negotiating behavior. Study 1 establishes a gender difference in moral identity strength through a meta-analysis of over 19,000 people. Study 2 observes gender differences in two aspects of negotiator ethics -moral disengagement and opportunism. Study 3 establishes moral identity strength as an antecedent to negotiator ethics. Finally, Studies 4 and 5 explore financial incentives as a situational moderator. Because financial incentives temporarily decrease the salience of moral identity, they could mitigate gender differences in negotiator ethics, leading women to act more like men. Across both studies, financial incentives impacted women's (but not men's) unethical negotiating behavior. Our findings help to explain why and when gender differences in ethics emerge.

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Moral Character in Person Perception

Cited by 221 publications

References 33 publications

Facial appearance affects science communication

Facial appearance affects science communication

Strengthening Purity: Moral Purity as a Mediator of Direct and Extended Cross-Group Friendships on Sexual Prejudice

A social-cognitive approach to understanding gender differences in negotiator ethics: The role of moral identity

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