Higher cognitive ability linked to weaker moral foundations in UK adults

IF 3.3 2区心理学 Q1 PSYCHOLOGY, MULTIDISCIPLINARY

Intelligence Pub Date : 2025-05-28 DOI:10.1016/j.intell.2025.101930

Michael Zakharin, Timothy C. Bates

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Abstract

Existing research on the relationship between cognitive ability and moral foundations has yielded contradictory results. While some studies suggest that higher cognitive ability is associated with more enlightened moral intuitions, others indicate it may weaken moral foundations. To address this ambiguity, we conducted two studies (total N = 1320) using the Moral Foundations Questionnaire-2 (MFQ-2) with UK residents. Both Study 1 and Study 2 (preregistered) revealed negative links between cognitive ability and moral foundations. In Study 1, structural models showed negative links between general intelligence (g) and both binding (−0.24) and individualizing (−0.19) foundations. These findings replicated closely in Study 2, with similar coefficients (−0.25 and − 0.18, respectively). Higher verbal ability was specifically associated with lower purity scores. These findings suggest a negative association between cognitive ability and moral foundations, challenging existing theories relating to intelligence and moral intuitions. However, causal direction remains uncertain.

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英国成年人较高的认知能力与较弱的道德基础有关

现有的关于认知能力与道德基础关系的研究得出了相互矛盾的结果。虽然一些研究表明，更高的认知能力与更开明的道德直觉有关，但也有研究表明，它可能会削弱道德基础。为了解决这种模糊性，我们对英国居民进行了两项研究（总N = 1320），使用道德基础问卷-2 （MFQ-2）。研究1和研究2（预登记）都揭示了认知能力和道德基础之间的负相关。在研究1中，结构模型显示一般智力(g)与结合基础（- 0.24）和个性化基础（- 0.19）之间存在负相关。这些发现在研究2中得到了密切的重复，具有相似的系数（分别为- 0.25和- 0.18）。较高的语言表达能力与较低的纯净度得分密切相关。这些发现表明认知能力和道德基础之间存在负相关，挑战了现有的有关智力和道德直觉的理论。然而，因果方向仍然不确定。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Intelligence PSYCHOLOGY, MULTIDISCIPLINARY-

CiteScore

5.80

自引率

13.30%

发文量

审稿时长

69 days

期刊介绍： This unique journal in psychology is devoted to publishing original research and theoretical studies and review papers that substantially contribute to the understanding of intelligence. It provides a new source of significant papers in psychometrics, tests and measurement, and all other empirical and theoretical studies in intelligence and mental retardation.