Empirical research on ethics: The influence of social roles on decisions and on their ethical justification

Authors

  • Erich H. Witte University of Hamburg
  • Imke Heitkamp University of Hamburg

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.26248/eleutherna.v3i0.141

Keywords:

social role, social standardization, ethics, justification

Abstract

Two questionnaire studies try to answer the question if different social roles
lead to difef rent decisions and justifications concerning ethical problems. In study
I participants were asked to decide on an economic problem (Should the
production of a mobile company be transferred abroad?) while going into a
related social role, in study II role expectations were asked for. The decision had
to be justified by weighing the importance of four classical ethical positions:
hedonism, intuitionism, utilitarianism, and deontology. The results show that
decisions and their justifications are dependent on social roles. The effect, which
is interpreted as stemming from social standardization, is greater for rolebehavior.
The difef rences between role-behavior and role-expectation indicate a
misunderstanding crucial for group decisions.

Author Biographies

Erich H. Witte, University of Hamburg

Witte Erich H.
Professor, Department of Psychology, Institute of Social Psychology, University of Hamburg

Imke Heitkamp, University of Hamburg

Heitkamp Imke
Doctor of Psychology, Department of Psychology, University of Hamburg

Eleftherna volume 3 2006 cover

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Published

2006-02-12

How to Cite

Witte, E. H., & Heitkamp, I. (2006). Empirical research on ethics: The influence of social roles on decisions and on their ethical justification. ELEUTHERNA, 3, 55–82. https://doi.org/10.26248/eleutherna.v3i0.141

Issue

Vol. 3 (2006): ΤΟΜΟΣ ΤΡΙΤΟΣ / VOLUME ΙΙΙ

Section

Articles

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