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Do Moral Choices Make Us Feel Good? The Development of Adolescents’ Emotions Following Moral Decision Making
Author(s) -
Malti Tina,
Keller Monika,
Buchmann Marlis
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
journal of research on adolescence
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.342
H-Index - 95
eISSN - 1532-7795
pISSN - 1050-8392
DOI - 10.1111/jora.12005
Subject(s) - feeling , psychology , social psychology , moral development , moral reasoning , moral dilemma , moral disengagement , empirical research , developmental psychology , epistemology , philosophy
Some people believe that making the morally right decision makes people feel good. However, until now, there has been no empirical evidence in support of this belief. In a representative two‐wave longitudinal study of 995 15‐year‐old adolescents followed for 3 years (until the age of 18) in Switzerland, adolescents were asked about their decisions and emotions following hypothetical dilemmas involving moral obligations versus self‐interest. Adolescents predominantly made moral decisions and reported feeling good following these decisions. With age, participants reported more positive emotions following moral decisions. A small number of adolescents made selfish decisions and reported feeling good following these decisions.