Universität zu Köln

Christov-Moore, Leonardo, Conway, Paul and Iacoboni, Marco (2017). Deontological Dilemma Response Tendencies and Sensorimotor Representations of Harm to Others. Front. Integr. Neurosci., 11. LAUSANNE: FRONTIERS MEDIA SA. ISSN 1662-5145

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Abstract

The dual process model of moral decision-making suggests that decisions to reject causing harm on moral dilemmas (where causing harm saves lives) reflect concern for others. Recently, some theorists have suggested such decisions actually reflect self-focused concern about causing harm, rather than witnessing others suffering. We examined brain activity while participants witnessed needles pierce another person's hand, versus similar non-painful stimuli. More than a month later, participants completed moral dilemmas where causing harm either did or did not maximize outcomes. We employed process dissociation to independently assess harm-rejection (deontological) and outcome-maximization (utilitarian) response tendencies. Activity in the posterior inferior frontal cortex (pIFC) while participants witnessed others in pain predicted deontological, but not utilitarian, response tendencies. Previous brain stimulation studies have shown that the pIFC seems crucial for sensorimotor representations of observed harm. Hence, these findings suggest that deontological response tendencies reflect genuine other-oriented concern grounded in sensorimotor representations of harm.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID ORCID Put Code Christov-Moore, Leonardo UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Conway, Paul UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Iacoboni, Marco UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED
URN:	urn:nbn:de:hbz:38-207979
DOI:	10.3389/fnint.2017.00034
Journal or Publication Title:	Front. Integr. Neurosci.
Volume:	11
Date:	2017
Publisher:	FRONTIERS MEDIA SA
Place of Publication:	LAUSANNE
ISSN:	1662-5145
Language:	English
Faculty:	Unspecified
Divisions:	Unspecified
Subjects:	no entry
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Keywords Language MORAL JUDGMENT; INDIVIDUAL-DIFFERENCES; PROCESS DISSOCIATION; MAGNETIC STIMULATION; PREFRONTAL CORTEX; DECISION-MAKING; EMPATHY; PAIN; COMPONENTS; INCLINATIONS Multiple languages Behavioral Sciences; Neurosciences Multiple languages
Refereed:	Yes
URI:	http://kups.ub.uni-koeln.de/id/eprint/20797