Egocentric biases in moral judgments of character and behavior
Egocentric biases in moral judgments of character and behavior
StatusPost-Print
Alternative title
Authors
Bocian, Konrad
Monograph
Research Handbook on Social Judgment
Monograph (alternative title)
Editor
Landy, Justin F.
Date
2026-07-16
Place of publication
Northampton, USA
Publisher
Edward Elgar Publishing
Journal title
Research Handbook on Social Judgment
Volume
Pages
140–158
ISSN
ISBN
978-1-0353-3254-0
978-1-0353-3253-3
978-1-0494-0292-5
978-1-0353-3253-3
978-1-0494-0292-5
eISBN
Series
Research Handbooks on Social Psychology
Series number
ISSN of series
Access date
2027-07-16
Remarks
Abstract PL
Abstract EN
Egocentrism plays a central role in moral cognition, as individuals interpret the social world from a default, self-centered perspective. This often leads people to view their moral evaluations as objective and justified, even when those judgments are influenced by self-interest or interpersonal preferences. In this chapter, I review research that identifies two key egocentric tendencies in moral judgment, which are evident in both children and adults. First, when interests are involved, individuals are more likely to evaluate unethical or unjust actions as morally acceptable. Second, people tend to perceive those they like as more moral than those they dislike, indicating that liking can bias moral evaluation. These patterns persist even when individuals attempt to reason impartially. Rather than being irrational errors, such tendencies may serve adaptive social functions by helping individuals maintain relationships, form alliances, and make strategic moral decisions. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for explaining everyday moral reasoning and behavior.
Abstract other
Keywords PL
Keywords EN
egocentrism
moral cognition
self-interest bias
liking bias
moral decision-making
moral cognition
self-interest bias
liking bias
moral decision-making
Keywords other
Conference edition name
Conference place
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Finish date
Sustainable Development Goals
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Place of exhibition (institution)
Exhibition curator
Organisational Unit
Instytut Psychologii
Type
Version
post-print / Author's Accepted Manuscript (AAM)
License type
Funder
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Contact person name
item.page.relation.dataset
Related publication
Related publication
Grant/project name
Egocentric judgements of moral character: Mechanisms, individual differences and debiasing strategies
Grant number
2021/43/D/HS6/02013 (SONATA)
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