The Effects and Implications of Mood on Moral Judgements

Authors

  • Ian T. Jones Oklahoma State University https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5057-3101
  • Christopher C. O'Lansen
  • Megan Baker
  • Emery Thackerson
  • Samantha Horvath
  • Katie Maupin
  • Hailey McDaniel-Johnson
  • James W. Grice

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14738/assrj.710.9070

Keywords:

Judgement, Self-reflection, Mood, States of Mind, Psychological Functioning

Abstract

Vladimir A. Lefebvre [1, 2] proposed an algebraic model of self-reflection that predicts individuals will judge ambiguous stimuli positively with a proportional frequency of .618. While a number of studies have empirically supported this prediction [3, 4], Anderson and colleagues [5] found only partial support for Lefebvre’s model. They moreover suggested that Schwartz and Garmoni’s States of Mind (SOM; [7]) model could potentially explain the disparate findings as well as the variability of positive judgements seen across individuals. Consequently, this study explored whether ratios of psychological functioning posited by the SOM model correspond with proportions of positive judgements of ambiguous stimuli (viz., pairs of pinto beans). Results revealed that, while Lefebvre’s predicted proportion of positive judgments was again replicated, individuals with relatively high positive affect were not more likely to rate greater proportions of the ambiguous stimuli positively.

References

[1]. Lefebvre, V. A. (1985). The golden section and an algebraic model of ethical cognition. Journal of Mathematical Psychology, 29, 289-310. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0022-2496(85)90010-0Liang, Z., et al., The detection and quantification of retinopathy using digital angiograms. Medical Imaging, IEEE Transactions on, 1994. 13(4): p. 619-626.
[2]. Lefebvre, V. A. (1987). The fundamental structures of human reflexion. Journal of Social and Biological Structures, 10, 129-175. https://doi.org/10.1016/0140-1750(87)90004-2
[3]. Lefebvre, V. D. (1990). Choice without criteria of preference. In H. Wheeler (Ed.), The structure of human reflexion: the reflexional psychology of Vladimir Lefebvre. New York: Peter Lang. Pp. 113-114.Heneghan, C., et al., Characterization of changes in blood vessel width and tortuosity in retinopathy of prematurity using image analysis. Medical image analysis, 2002. 6(4): p. 407-429.
[4]. Anderson, J. A., & Grice, J. W. (2009). Replicating a simple study of asymmetry in human cognition. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 109, 577-580. http://dx.doi.org/10.2466/pms.109.2.577-580
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[7]. Schwartz, R. M., & Garamoni, G. L. (1986). A structural model of positive and negative states of mind: Asymmetry in the internal dialogue. In P. C. Kendall (Ed.), Advances in cognitive-behavioral research and therapy (Vol. 5, pp. 1–62). New York, NY: Academic Press.
[8]. Schwartz, R. M., Reynolds, D. F., Thase, M. E., Frank, E., & Fasiczka, A. L. (2002). Optimal and normal affect balance in psychotherapy of major depression: Evaluation of the balanced states of mind model. Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy, 30, 439–450. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1352465802004058
[9]. Schwartz, R. M., & Grice, J. W. (2020). Positive ratios and psychological functioning: Reports of the theory’s death have been greatly exaggerated. Manuscript under review.
[10]. Watson, D., Clark, L. A., & Tellegen, A. (1988). Development and validation of brief measures of positive and negative affect: the PANAS scales. Journal of personality and social psychology, 54(6), 1063. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.54.6.1063
[11]. Schwartz, R. M., & Garamoni, G. L. (1989). Cognitive balance and psychopathology: Evaluation of an information processing model of positive and negative states of mind. Clinical Psychology Review, 9, 271-294. https://doi.org/10.1016/0272-7358(89)90058-5

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Published

2020-10-17

How to Cite

Ian T. Jones, Christopher C. O’Lansen, Megan Baker, Emery Thackerson, Samantha Horvath, Katie Maupin, Hailey McDaniel-Johnson, & James W. Grice. (2020). The Effects and Implications of Mood on Moral Judgements. Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal, 7(10), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.14738/assrj.710.9070

Issue

Vol. 7 No. 10 (2020): Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal

Section

Articles

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