Situational factors shape moral judgments in the trolley dilemma in Eastern, Southern, and Western countries in a culturally diverse sample
Authors: Bago Bence , Kovacs Marton , Protzko John , Kekecs Zoltan , Nagy Tamas , Hoekstra Rink , Li Manyu , Musser Erica D. , Arvanitis Alexios , Iones Macyjane Tinsley , Bayrak Fatih , Papadatou-Pastou Marietta , Belaus Anabel , Storage Daniel , Thomas Andrew G. , Buchanan Erin Michelle , Becker Benjamin , Baskin Ernest , Kendrick Keith , Sirota Mirsolav , Lynds Trent M. , Calvillo Dustin P , Mensink Michael Craig , Zezelj Iris , Wagge Jordan Rose , Röer Jan Philipp , Vaughn Leigh Ann , Reyna Cecilia , Wood Sarah , Adamkovic Matus , Brown Benjamin T. , Lu Jackson G. , Liu Xin , Gill Tripat , Gollwitzer Mario , Magraw-Mickelson Zoe , Batres Carlota , Hristova Evgeniya , Grinberg Maurice , Marcu Gabriela Mariana , Mackinnon Sean P. , Frank Darius-Aurel , Bialek Michal , Wilton Leigh Solano , Parzuchowski Michal , Kocalar Halil Emre , Burak Elif Gizem Demirag , Solas Sara Álvarez , Evans Thomas Rhys , Levitan Carmel , Paruzel-Czachura Mariola , Findor Andrej , Shane-Simpson Christina , Puvia Elisa , Vally Zahir , Vadillo Miguel A. , Zein Rizqy Amelia , Lantian Anthony , Czoschke Stefan , Carnes Nathan , Peters Kim Olivia , Fiedler Susann , Lazarevic Ljiljana B. , Milfont Taciano L , Celniker Jared , Wlodarczyk Anna , Chopik William J. , Stephen Ian David , Shi Jiaxin , fei xinyuan , Owsley Nicholas Calbraith , Li Yansong , Feldman Gilad , Dixson Barnaby , Mitkidis Panagiotis , Lalot Fanny , Mirisola Alberto , Zheng Xiaoxiao , Quiamzade Alain , Tiede Kevin E. , Fleischmann Alexandra , Rutjens Bastiaan T , Becker Maja , Purić Danka , Tonković Mirjana , Dumačić Francesca , Lins Samuel , Zhang Don C. , Reips Ulf-Dietrich , Gordon-Finlayson Alasdair R , Harris Elizabeth Ann , McLatchie Neil , Yoon Sangsuk , Lange Elke B , Matibag Celine-Justine , Hudson Charlotte A. , Stevens-Wilson Laura Jane , Tunstead Lauren Victoria , West Skye-loren , Reinero Diego A. , Batalha Luisa , Clancy Rockwell F. , Castille Christopher Michael , Szekely-Copîndean Raluca Diana , Karimi-Malekabadi Farzan , Olsen Jerome , Kaminski Gwenaël , Twardawski Mathias , Schild Christoph , Ścigała Karolina Aleksandra , Kačmár Pavol , Stieger Stefan , Mattiassi Alan , Bilancini Ennio , Lenz Jennifer Nicole , Moeini-Jazani Mehrad , Pärnamets Philip , Sternisko Anni , Ochoa Danielle , Jokic Biljana , Hidding Jasper , Leliveld Marijke C. , Perez Cubillas C. , Yilmaz Onurcan , Kühberger Anton , Steffens Niklas K , Alper Sinan , Albalooshi Sumaya , Eudave Luis , Susa Kyle J. , Schmidt Kathleen , Voracek Martin , Ghossainy Maliki E. , Barzykowski Krystian , Adamus Sylwia , Hartanto Andree , GRATON Aurélien , Jaeger Bastian , Moreau David , Sievers Erin , Goh Jin X. , Boudesseul Jordane , Lammers Joris , Paterlini Julia , Rybus Katarzyna , Szostak Natalia , Huskey Richard , Janssen Steve M. J. , Lima Tiago Jessé Souza , Gjoneska Biljana , Chartier Christopher R. , Primbs Maximilian , Ross Robert M , Dutra Natalia Bezerra , Aczel Balazs 
Published: April 2019

Much research on moral judgment is centered on moral dilemmas in which deontological perspectives (i.e., emphasizing rules, individual rights and duties) are in conflict with utilitarian judgements (i.e., following the greater good defined through consequences). A central finding of this field Greene et al. showed that psychological and situational factors (e.g., the intent of the agent, or physical contact between the agent and the victim) play an important role in people’s use of deontological versus utilitarian considerations when making moral decisions. As their study was conducted with US samples, our knowledge is limited concerning the universality of this effect, in general, and the impact of culture on the situational and psychological factors of moral judgments, in particular. Here, we empirically test the universality of deontological and utilitarian judgments by replicating Greene et al.’s experiments on a large (N = X,XXX) and diverse (WEIRD and non-WEIRD) sample across the world to explore the influence of culture on moral judgment. The relevance of this exploration to a broad range of policy-making problems is discussed.