A Cleansing Fire: Moral Outrage Alleviates Guilt and Buffers Threats to One's Moral Identity
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
4-2017
Department
Psychology
Abstract
Why do people express moral outrage? While this sentiment often stems from a perceived violation of some moral principle, we test the counter-intuitive possibility that moral outrage at third-party transgressions is sometimes a means of reducing guilt over one's own moral failings and restoring a moral identity. We tested this guilt-driven account of outrage in five studies examining outrage at corporate labor exploitation and environmental destruction. Study 1 showed that personal guilt uniquely predicted moral outrage at corporate harm-doing and support for retributive punishment. Ingroup (vs. outgroup) wrongdoing elicited outrage at corporations through increased guilt, while the opportunity to express outrage reduced guilt (Study 2) and restored perceived personal morality (Study 3). Study 4 tested whether effects were due merely to downward social comparison and Study 5 showed that guilt-driven outrage was attenuated by an affirmation of moral identity in an unrelated context.
Publication Title
Motivation and Emotion
Volume
41
Issue
2
First Page
209
Last Page
229
Recommended Citation
Rothschild, Z. K.,
Keefer, L. A.
(2017). A Cleansing Fire: Moral Outrage Alleviates Guilt and Buffers Threats to One's Moral Identity. Motivation and Emotion, 41(2), 209-229.
Available at: https://aquila.usm.edu/fac_pubs/17717