The role of moral cues in cooperation: The mediating effect of warmth.

Abstract

Moral judgments hold significant value for an individual's adaptation to society. Moral cues can both point to prospects of benefits and affect interpersonal perceptions, both of which may influence cooperation. This study focuses on how the moral cues affect individuals' willingness to cooperate. We hypothesized that lower levels of moral cues would decrease the willingness to cooperate, with warmth mediating this relationship. This hypothesis was tested through two studies. In Study 1, the moral cues were presented in a labeled condition. In Study 2, moral cues were presented in descriptive condition. The results indicated that, under different conditions, moral cues impacted willingness to cooperate through the mediating role of warmth. Participants perceived objects with higher moral levels as warmer, thereby exhibiting a greater willingness to cooperate.