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Cited by 609Psychology of Moral and Emotional JudgmentEmotions and Moral BehaviorSocial and Intergroup Psychology

The moral emotions: A social–functionalist account of anger, disgust, and contempt.

Hutcherson, Cendri A., Gross, James J.·2011·Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
DOI 10.1037/a0022408
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Abstract

Recent research has highlighted the important role of emotion in moral judgment and decision making (Greene, Sommerville, Nystrom, Darley, & Cohen, 2001; Haidt, 2001). What is less clear is whether distinctions should be drawn among specific moral emotions. Although some have argued for differences among anger, disgust, and contempt (Rozin, Lowery, Imada, & Haidt, 1999), others have suggested that these terms may describe a single undifferentiated emotional response to morally offensive behavior (Nabi, 2002). In this article, we take a social-functionalist perspective, which makes the prediction that these emotions should be differentiable both in antecedent appraisals and in consequent actions and judgments. Studies 1-3 tested and found support for our predictions concerning distinctions among antecedent appraisals, including (a) a more general role for disgust than has been previously been described, (b) an effect of self-relevance on anger but not other emotions, and (c) a role for contempt in judging incompetent actions. Studies 4 and 5 tested and found support for our specific predictions concerning functional outcomes, providing evidence that these emotions are associated with different consequences. Taken together, these studies support a social-functionalist account of anger, disgust, and contempt and lay the foundation for future research on the negative interpersonal emotions.

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  • Moral emotions may be tied specifically to behavior relevant to morality and politics, including judgments of responsibility and voting.

    “Importantly, moral emotions may also be tied specifically to behavior that is relevant to morality and politics, including judgments of responsibility and voting (13,14).”

    From Emotion shapes the diffusion of moralized content in social networks (2017) · cites this paper as [13]

  • Moral outrage can encourage an active response, such as protests for social justice.

    “moral outrage can encourage an active response, such as protests for social justice (Hutcherson & Gross 2011, Jost et al. 2018, Spring et al. 2018, van Zomeren et al. 2004)”

    From Social Media and Morality. (2024) · cites this paper as Hutcherson & Gross 2011

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Authors
Hutcherson, C. A., & Gross, J. J.
Affiliations
Stanford University (US)
ORCID
Venue
Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
Publisher
American Psychological Association (APA)
Published
2011
Volume
100
Issue
4
Pages
719-737
ISSN
  • 0022-3514 (ISSN-L)
  • 1939-1315
DOI
10.1037/a0022408
OpenAlex
W2105164027
Cited by
609
References
61
Citations by year
2026: 42 · 2025: 51 · 2024: 52 · 2023: 40 · 2022: 56 · 2021: 53 · 2020: 38 · 2019: 56 · 2018: 33 · 2017: 36 · 2016: 34 · 2015: 32 · 2014: 38 · 2013: 30 · 2012: 13
FWCI
13.81
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Journal of Personality and Social Psychology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Psychology of Moral and Emotional Judgment
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Emotions and Moral Behavior
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Social and Intergroup Psychology
Keywords
moral emotions, anger, disgust, contempt, moral judgment, ethical decision-making, self-relevance, emotional impact, interpersonal emotions
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Anger, Decision Making, Emotions, Female, Humans, Interpersonal Relations, Judgment, Male, Middle Aged, Morals, Social Responsibility, Young Adult

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