Examining Moral Intuitions Across Cultures Through Real-World Dilemmas

Thesis Abstract

The moral intuitions that underpin ethical judgments are deeply embedded in cultural contexts, yet their universality and variability remain subjects of ongoing scholarly debate. This study addresses the vital question of how moral intuitions manifest differently across diverse cultures when confronted with real-world dilemmas, aiming to elucidate the influence of cultural backgrounds on moral reasoning. The primary objectives are to compare moral decision-making patterns among individuals from four distinct cultural groups—East Asian, Western European, Sub-Saharan African, and Latin American—and to identify cultural factors that underpin variations in moral intuitions, using both qualitative and quantitative analytical approaches. Employing a mixed-methods research design, the study integrates an experimental component with an ethnographically informed qualitative investigation. The quantitative component adopts a cross-sectional survey strategy targeting a total sample of 400 adults, with 100 participants drawn randomly from each cultural group through stratified sampling techniques. Data collection instruments comprise culturally adapted moral dilemmas modeled on the classic trolley and Heinz scenarios, supplemented with self-report questionnaires measuring moral judgment and cultural orientation, including the Moral Foundations Questionnaire and Hofstede’s Cultural Dimensions Scale. The qualitative component involves in-depth semi-structured interviews with a subset of 40 participants, selected purposively to maximize cultural diversity, to explore contextual factors influencing moral intuitions. Validity and reliability of the instruments are ensured through pre-testing, cultural adaptation, and internal consistency assessments (Cronbach’s alpha exceeding 0.75). Data analysis involves quantitative techniques such as ANOVA and multiple regression analysis to examine variations and predictors of moral judgments across cultures. The thematic analysis method will be utilized to interpret interview transcripts, identifying common themes and cultural narratives underpinning moral intuitions. Analytical frameworks are grounded in moral psychology theories, particularly Jonathan Haidt’s Social Intuitionist Model and the Culturally Relativist Theory of Morality, which postulate that moral judgments are shaped by intuitive and cultural factors. Expected findings include significant cross-cultural differences in moral judgment modalities, with collectivist cultures exhibiting a stronger inclination toward relational and community-oriented moral principles, while individualist cultures demonstrate a focus on personal autonomy and rights. Variations in moral intuitions are anticipated to correlate with specific cultural dimensions such as power distance and uncertainty avoidance. The qualitative analysis is expected to reveal culturally specific moral frameworks and narratives that inform intuitive judgments, thus providing a nuanced understanding of moral cognition. This research contributes to the expanding field of cross-cultural moral psychology by empirically demonstrating how cultural contexts shape moral intuitions and decision-making in familiar dilemmas. It advances theoretical understanding by synthesizing insights from Haidt’s Social Intuitionist Model with Hofstede’s cultural dimensions, offering a comprehensive perspective on moral variability. The findings will inform cross-cultural ethical policy development, intercultural dialogue, and educational initiatives aimed at fostering moral tolerance and understanding. The study concludes that moral intuitions are neither wholly universal nor entirely culturally specific but are dynamically constructed through an interplay of innate psychological processes and cultural influences. It recommends policymakers and educators consider cultural nuances in moral reasoning approaches and advocates for further longitudinal research to examine how globalization and intercultural exchange impact moral intuitions over time. Ultimately, this research aims to deepen scholarly comprehension of the cultural contours of morality, promoting a culturally sensitive understanding of moral judgment processes in a globalized world.