How does the moral self-concept relate to prosocial behaviour? Investigating the role of emotions and consistency preference

Author(s)
Natalie Christner, Carolina Pletti, Markus Paulus
Abstract

The moral self-concept has been proposed as a central predictor of prosocial behaviour. In two experiments (one preregistered), we explored the nature of the relation between the moral self-concept (explicit and implicit) and prosocial behaviour. Specifically, we investigated the role of emotions associated with prosocial behaviour (consequential or anticipated) and preference for consistency. The results revealed a relation between the explicit moral self-concept and sharing behaviour. The explicit moral self-concept was linked to anticipated and consequential emotions regarding not-sharing. Importantly, anticipated and consequential emotions about not-sharing mediated the relation between self-concept and behaviour. Yet, the relation was independent of preference for consistency. The implicit moral self-concept was neither related to prosocial behaviour nor to emotions associated with behaviour. Overall, our study demonstrates the interplay between cognitive and emotional processes in explaining prosocial behaviour. More specific, it underlines the link between the moral self-concept and prosocial behaviour and highlights the role of emotions about the omission of prosocial behaviour.

Organisation(s)
External organisation(s)
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
Journal
Cognition and Emotion
Volume
36
Pages
894-911
No. of pages
18
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1080/02699931.2022.2067133
Publication date
05-2022
Peer reviewed
Yes
Austrian Fields of Science 2012
501021 Social psychology
Keywords
ASJC Scopus subject areas
Experimental and Cognitive Psychology, Developmental and Educational Psychology, Arts and Humanities (miscellaneous)
Portal url
https://ucris.univie.ac.at/portal/en/publications/how-does-the-moral-selfconcept-relate-to-prosocial-behaviour-investigating-the-role-of-emotions-and-consistency-preference(d17fdae1-1939-4855-94a2-af1801f97b8d).html