Date of Award
5-2026
Degree Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
School
Psychology
Committee Chair
Dr. Donald Sacco
Committee Chair School
Psychology
Committee Member 2
Dr. Lin Agler
Committee Member 2 School
Psychology
Committee Member 3
Dr. Kenji Noguchi
Committee Member 3 School
Psychology
Committee Member 4
Dr. Aaron Fath
Committee Member 4 School
Psychology
Abstract
The present study examined how couples’ reasons for the final disposition of their embryos interact with the method of embryo disposition to influence third-party evaluations of the moral correctness of such decisions as well as participants’ own hypothetical likelihood of making a similar decision. This study utilized a 2 (Disposition Reason: financial constraints vs unneeded remaining embryos) x 3 (Disposition Type: donate to science vs donate to other couples vs destroy) between subjects ANCOVA design, with participants’ embryo personhood beliefs, religiosity and political conservatism as potential moderating individual difference variables. Participants (N=299) were recruited online via Prolific Academic and randomly assigned on a between participants basis to one of six vignettes that manipulated couples’ reasons for and methods of embryo disposition. They reported the moral correctness of the decision, their likelihood of making similar decisions and then completed assessments of religiosity, embryo personhood beliefs and political affiliation, as well as a demographics form. The results showed that stronger embryo personhood beliefs predicted lower support for couple’s disposition decision, particularly when embryos were destroyed or donated to science, but not when donated to other couples. Participants’ embryo personhood beliefs more strongly predicted reduced support for couples’ disposition decision when couples did not want more children compared to when the decision was based on financial constraints. Overall, the disposition method significantly shaped moral support among those with stronger personhood beliefs. This study expands the knowledge of what drives attitudes towards embryo disposition to inform public discourse on this divisive topic.
Copyright
Saba Shahid, 2026
Recommended Citation
Shahid, Saba, "Attitudes Toward Embryo Disposition: Role of Personhood, Religious and Political Conservatism" (2026). Dissertations. 2455.
https://aquila.usm.edu/dissertations/2455