On the effects of positive emotions on morality

How do positive emotions influence morality? Asking myself this relevant question, led to the goal to make predictions on the impact of various positive emotions on moral judgments and behaviors. In my PhD research, I approached this goal by developing a theoretical framework and conducting empirical studies. The newly developed theoretical framework was given the name ‘full-perspective hypothesis’ and provided predictions on which positive emotions were expected to increase (e.g., optimism) or decrease (e.g., love) moral outcomes. To test these predictions, I measured how various positive emotions influence moral outcomes in different ways and examined the processes that underlie these effects. This research program resulted in 4 empirical chapters in which the full-perspective hypothesis was tested (all empirical chapters are submitted to be considered for publication). First, as a basis for the predictions, the effects of 14 positive emotions on particular mindsets were measured. When people experience a positive emotion that gives them a sense of goal-fulfillment and makes them focus on specific (i.e., short-term, individual) aspects of life, they are predicted to judge and behave less morally compared when they experience a positive emotion that gives them a perception that one’s goal are not fulfilled yet and make them focus on global (i.e., long-term, collective) outcomes. Consistent with this prediction, I showed that positive emotions inducing a fulfilled, specific perspective mindset (i.e., love, amusement, relaxation) led to less moral outcomes compared to positive emotions leading to an unfulfilled, global perspective mindset (i.e., optimism, compassion, inspiration). Also, the finding that love led to less moral judgments and behaviors than optimism was robust across economic and environmental social dilemmas. Finally, I examined how morality was affected by different experiences of love (e.g., requited vs. unrequited) and optimism (i.e., trait and state). My findings contribute to knowledge on how moral outcomes can be optimized.