Moral Judgments Across the Economic Divide: The Effect of Perceived Economic Inequality and Status in Judgment of Transgressions, Justification, and Dehumanization

Abstract

Moral judgments are influenced by the context in which a transgression occurs and the characteristics of the transgressor. This study examined how economic inequality and the socioeconomic status (SES) of the transgressor affect the Judgement of the transgression, its Justification, and the Dehumanization of the transgressor. In addition, we investigated the mechanisms that mediate these effects, such as anomie, a sense of control, and sympathy. Through two experimental studies (Study 1: N = 289; Study 2: N = 401), we found that both perceived economic inequality and SES (low vs. high) influence moral judgments. Specifically, high-status transgressors are judged more harshly, their actions are less justified, and they are more dehumanized. We also determined that higher economic inequality increases moral Justifications through perceptions of greater anomie, whilst reduced sympathy toward high-status transgressors explains their harsher judgments and greater Dehumanization. This research helps our understanding of how inequality and SES shape moral judgments and highlights the importance of contextualizing them.