Punishment possibility and implicit morality: The moderating role of moral identity

Abstract

We investigated the relationship between the possibility of punishment and implicit moral judgments, as well as the moderating role of moral identity on this relationship. Participants (n = 159, mean age = 21.64 years, SD = 2.47 years) first performed a two-stage social decision task designed to stimulate their experience of punishment at one of three probability levels. This was followed by the completion of a moral implicit association test and a measure on moral identity. Analyses of variance revealed that, compared to the medium or non-high probability of punishment conditions, the high probability of punishment condition induced a lower level of implicit moral evaluations. Moderation analyses indicated that the adverse effect of high probability punishment was primarily observed in participants with higher moral identity. These findings are explained by retributive and utilitarian justifications for immediate experiences of punishment. The findings have significant practical implications for individuals whose self-concept is intertwined with moral values.