When it takes a bad person to do the right thing

Uhlmann, Eric Luis; Zhu, Luke (Lei); Tannenbaum, David

doi:10.1016/j.cognition.2012.10.005

Cited by 149Psychology of Moral and Emotional JudgmentEthics in Business and EducationPhilosophical Ethics and Theory

When it takes a bad person to do the right thing

Uhlmann, Eric Luis, Zhu, Luke (Lei), Tannenbaum, David·2013·Cognition

DOI 10.1016/j.cognition.2012.10.005

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Abstract

Three studies demonstrate that morally praiseworthy behavior can signal negative information about an agent's character. In particular, consequentialist decisions such as sacrificing one life to save an even greater number of lives can lead to unfavorable character evaluations, even when they are viewed as the preferred course of action. In Study 1, throwing a dying man overboard to prevent a lifeboat from sinking was perceived as the morally correct course of action, but led to negative aspersions about the motivations and personal character of individuals who carried out such an act. In Studies 2 and 3, a hospital administrator who decided not to fund an expensive operation to save a child (instead buying needed hospital equipment) was seen as making a pragmatic and morally praiseworthy decision, but also as deficient in empathy and moral character.

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Consequentialists are perceived as less empathic.
“because consequentialists are perceived as less empathic [78]”
From The amoral atheist? A cross-national examination of cultural, motivational, and cognitive antecedents of disbelief, and their implications for morality (2021) · cites this paper as [78]
Moral character evaluations of people who make decisions based on consequentialist (vs. rule-based) principles are more negative.
“moral character evaluations of people who make decisions based on consequentialist (vs. rule-based) principles are more negative”
From The amoral atheist? A cross-national examination of cultural, motivational, and cognitive antecedents of disbelief, and their implications for morality (2021) · cites this paper as [78]

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Authors: Uhlmann, E. L., Zhu, L. (., & Tannenbaum, D.
Affiliations: HEC Paris (FR)
University of British Columbia (CA)
University of California, Los Angeles (US)
Corresponding author: Uhlmann, Eric Luis
ORCID: Uhlmann, Eric Luis
Zhu, Luke (Lei)
Tannenbaum, David
Venue: Cognition
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Published: 2013-02
Volume: 126
Issue: 2
Pages: 326-334
ISSN: 0010-0277 (ISSN-L)
DOI: 10.1016/j.cognition.2012.10.005
OpenAlex: W1966290441
Cited by: 149
References: 26
Citations by year: 2026: 13 · 2025: 12 · 2024: 12 · 2023: 12 · 2022: 15 · 2021: 17 · 2020: 13 · 2019: 10 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 12 · 2016: 11 · 2015: 3 · 2014: 6 · 2013: 4
FWCI: 2.12
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Licence: www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/ (tdm)
Locations: Cognition (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
HAL (submittedVersion)
Topics: Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Psychology of Moral and Emotional Judgment
Social Sciences › Decision Sciences › Information Systems and Management › Ethics in Business and Education
Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Philosophy › Philosophical Ethics and Theory
Keywords: empathy, hospital administrators, moral judgment
MeSH terms: Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Character, Empathy, Female, Humans, Judgment, Male, Middle Aged, Morals, Motivation, Ethical Theory

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