Sacrificial moral dilemmas elicit a strong conflict between the motive to not personally harm someone and the competing motive to achieving the greater good, which is often described as the "utilitarian" response. Some prior research suggests that reasoning abilities and deliberative cognitive style are associated with endorsement of utilitarian solutions, but as has more recently been emphasized, both conceptual and methodological issues leave open the possibility that utilitarian responses are due instead to a reduced emotional response to harm. Across eight studies, using self-report, behavioral performance, and neuroanatomical measures, we show that individual differences in reasoning ability and cognitive style of thinking are positively associated with a preference for utilitarian solutions, but bear no relationship to harm-relevant concerns. These findings support the dual-process model of moral decision making and highlight the utility of process dissociation methods.

Sacrificial moral dilemmas elicit a strong conflict between the motive not to personally harm someone and the competing motive to achieving the greater good, which is often described as the “utilitarian” response. Some prior research suggests that reasoning abilities and deliberative cognitive style are associated with endorsement of utilitarian solutions but, as has more recently been emphasized, both conceptual and methodological issues leave open the possibility that utilitarian responses are due instead to reduced emotional response to harm. Across eight studies, using self-report, behavioral performance, and neuroanatomical measures, we show that individual differences in reasoning ability and cognitive style of thinking are positively associated with a preference for utilitarian solutions, but bear no relationship to harm-relevant concerns. These findings support the dual process model of moral decision making and highlight the utility of process dissociation methods.

IntroductionDifferent studies have investigated by means of EEG-fMRI coregistration the brain networks related to generalized spike-and-wave discharges (GSWD) in patients with idiopathic generalized epilepsy (IGE). These studies revealed a widespread GSWD-related neural network that involves the thalamus and regions of the default mode network. In this study we investigated which brain regions are critically involved in the termination of absence seizures (AS) in a group of IGE patients.MethodsEighteen patients (6 male; mean age 25 years) with AS were included in the EEG-fMRI study. Functional data were acquired at 3T with continuous simultaneous video-EEG recording. Event-related analysis was performed with SPM8 software, using the following regressors: (1) GSWD onset and duration; (2) GSWD offset. Data were analyzed at single-subject and at group level with a second level random effect analysis.ResultsA mean of 17 events for patient was recorded (mean duration of 4.2 sec). Group-level analysis related to GSWD onset respect to rest confirmed previous findings revealing thalamic activation and a precuneus/posterior cingulate deactivation. At GSWD termination we observed a decrease in BOLD signal over the bilateral dorsolateral frontal cortex respect to the baseline (and respect to GSWD onset). The contrast GSWD offset versus onset showed a BOLD signal increase over the precuneus-posterior cingulate region bilaterally. Parametric correlations between electro-clinical variables and BOLD signal at GSWD offset did not reveal significant effects.ConclusionThe role of the decreased neural activity of lateral prefrontal cortex at GSWD termination deserve future investigations to ascertain if it has a role in promoting the discharge offset, as well as in the determination of the cognitive deficits often present in patients with AS. The increased BOLD signal at precuneal/posterior cingulate cortex might reflect the recovery of neural activity in regions that are “suspended” during spike and waves activity, as previously hypothesized.

This study investigates the role of default options in the relationship between trait anxiety, and decision-making styles and financial decisions. One hundred and ninety-four participants were divided into three groups and subjected to three different conditions. Under each experimental condition, they had to decide whether to accept or reject investment proposals. In the first group, they had been enrolled in investment plans by default (opt-out condition), in the second group, they had not been automatically enrolled in these plans (opt-in condition), and in the third group they had to choose whether to enroll or not (control condition). The results showed that the investment decisions of anxious, avoidant, rational and dependent individuals could be facilitated by default options. In conclusion, using default options as a “nudge” can support specific groups of people to improve their financial decisions.

The psychological assessment of parents involved in proceedings about their parental rights is often ordered by the Court in order to determine personality traits linked to potential problems in parental competences. We compared the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI)-2 scores of this specific sample with a comparison group of parents involved in child custody litigations, considering a total of 429 individuals undergoing personality evaluations ordered by several Italian courts. The results showed moderate elevations on clinical scales 4 (Psychopathic Deviate) and 6 (Paranoia) in the first group. Results for the Diamond's Axes, supplementary scales, content scales, and PSY-5 point to other psychological concerns, which were not considered widely in the literature we reviewed. This paper creates a comparative norm set for the MMPI-2 in Italian parental assessment, comparing the MMPI-2 scores of parents in custody litigations versus those whose parental fitness was under investigation. Public Significance StatementThis study compares the MMPI-2 scores of a sample of parents involved in proceedings about their parental rights with a comparison group of parents involved in child custody litigations. Results showed a clinically useful relationship between some personality characteristics and parental competency vulnerability.