Not all bilinguals are the same: A meta-analysis of the moral foreign language effect

Stankovic, Michelle; Biedermann, Britta; Hamamura, Takeshi

doi:10.1016/j.bandl.2022.105082

Cited by 34 publications

(51 citation statements)

References 78 publications

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“…Although the study reported a reliable FLE on decision outcomes, it was not able to detect a contribution of moderator variables on the observed effect. A second meta-analytic study by Stankovic et al (2022) restricted the literature search to the moral decision-making domain, and analyzed whether self-reported FL proficiency (reading, writing, listening, and speaking), language immersion (months spent in the FL country), and NL-FL similarity moderated the MFLE in personal vs. impersonal dilemmas. Results indicated a MFLE within personal dilemmas moderated by FL reading proficiency, whereby bilinguals with higher proficiency were less likely to make utilitarian decisions.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Interindividual variability along these dimensions is known to affect bilingual language processing (e.g., Fricke et al, 2019; Sulpizio et al, 2020), and may therefore underlie processing differences in decision-making when using a FL, with potential repercussions on the scope and characteristics of the MFLE. Research has begun to explore the putative influence of linguistic variables such as AoA, proficiency, and language dominance or use on bilinguals’ patterns of moral responding, though with mixed or inconclusive results (see Del Maschio et al, 2022; Stankovic et al, 2022). Yet the role of these variables in modulating bilinguals’ moral reasoning has been emphasized – albeit to varying degrees – by all previous theoretical accounts of the FLE, as detailed in the rest of this section.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Foreign to whom? Constraining the moral foreign language effect on bilinguals’ language experience

et al. 2022

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The moral foreign language effect (MFLE) describes how people’s decisions may change when a moral dilemma is presented in either their native (NL) or foreign language (FL). Growing attention is being directed to unpacking what aspects of bilingualism may influence the MFLE, though with mixed or inconclusive results. The current study aims to bridge this gap by adopting a conceptualization of bilingualism that frames this construct as a composite and continuous measure. In a between-group analysis, we asked 196 Italian–English bilinguals to perform a moral dilemmas task in either their NL (i.e., Italian) or FL (i.e., English). In a within-group analysis, we evaluated the effects of FL age of acquisition, FL proficiency, and language dominance – all measured as continuous variables – on moral decision-making. Overall, findings indicate that differences within bilinguals’ language experience impact moral decisions in an FL. However, the effect of the linguistic factors considered was not ubiquitous across dilemmas, and not always emerged into a MFLE. In light of these results, our study addresses the importance of treating bilingualism as multidimensional, rather than a unitary variable. It also discusses the need to reconceptualize the FLE and its implications on moral decision-making.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Foreign to whom? Constraining the moral foreign language effect on bilinguals’ language experience

et al. 2022

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“…Research on the Foreign Language Effect claims that people's decisions and judgments vary depending on whether they use their native language or a foreign language. The most robust effects of using a foreign language, confirmed by three meta-analyses, are more utilitarian moral judgments and reduced risk aversion (Circi et al, 2021;Maschio et al, 2022;Stankovic et al, 2022). Despite its potential significance, little is yet known about the mechanisms of the Foreign Language Effect.…”

Section: Foreign Language On Cognitive Reflection and Numeracymentioning

confidence: 95%

Using a foreign language does not make you think more: Null effects of using a foreign language on cognitive reflection and numeracy

Milczarski¹,

Borkowska²,

Paruzel‐Czachura³

et al. 2022

Preprint

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Using a foreign language is suggested to affect how we think and decide, even reducing bias in our judgment. However, the exact mechanisms of its influence are still unknown. In this project, we tested two of the potential mechanisms driving the foreign language: increased cognitive reflection and greater task engagement. We analyzed previously collected data from 5 experiments employing the Cognitive Reflection Test and/or the Berlin Numeracy Test. The results show anecdotal to strong evidence supporting null effects. We believe that our results undermine the claim that using a foreign language promotes more cognitive reflection or engagement

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“…Moreover, it cannot be ruled out that individual differences in the participants' L2 reading proficiency may have influenced the results. For example, a recent meta-analysis (Stankovic et al, 2022) revealed that lower L2 reading proficiency was associated with more utilitarian judgements in emotionally charged moral dilemmas (but see Circi et al, 2021;Del Maschio et al, 2022). In order to advance research in the filed forward and to attain a better understanding of the MFLe, future studies should attempt to identify potentially relevant variables (such as emotional acculturation, linguistic distance between the L1 and the L2, and L2 reading abilities) and to explore how they contribute to bilinguals' moral choices.…”

Section: Limitations and Future Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

Moral judgements in a foreign language: Expressing emotions and justifying decisions

Kyriakou¹,

Foucart

Mavrou

2022

International Journal of Bilingualism

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Aim: Previous evidence suggests that language influences bilinguals’ moral judgements. One explanation for this phenomenon is that using a second language (L2) attenuates emotional arousal, thus leading to more rational decisions. This study examined whether bilinguals’ moral arguments and emotional vocabulary are influenced by the language – first language (L1) or L2 – in which a moral dilemma is presented. Methodology and data analysis: A mixed-methods design was employed. We analysed the emotional vocabulary used by 204 Spanish-English bilinguals when making moral judgements and expressing their emotions in response to a highly emotional moral dilemma, as well as the type of arguments they employed to justify their moral decisions in L1 and L2. Findings: The participants were more emotional in their L1, as reflected in the arguments they used to justify their decisions. This finding was supported by a significantly lower number of emotional words in their L2. Moreover, the effect of language on moral judgements was mediated by the participants’ emotions. Originality: This study is the first to qualitatively examine the types of arguments underlying bilinguals’ moral decision-making in their L1 and in their L2. Moreover, the analysis of verbal emotional expressions in relation to moral decisions adds to the findings of previous research that was based almost exclusively on forced-choice measures and further supports the hypothesis that the reduction of emotional arousal in an L2 modulates individuals’ moral judgements. Implications: The results have implications for L2 teaching and pedagogy. The L2 curriculum should include instruction in emotional vocabulary and should engage learners in discussions that require argumentation and critical thinking about strong emotional content. This may assist bilinguals not only to express their internal affective states more efficiently, but also to experience the intensity of L2 emotionally charged words in a similar way as they do in their L1.

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Not all bilinguals are the same: A meta-analysis of the moral foreign language effect

Cited by 34 publications

References 78 publications

Foreign to whom? Constraining the moral foreign language effect on bilinguals’ language experience

Foreign to whom? Constraining the moral foreign language effect on bilinguals’ language experience

Using a foreign language does not make you think more: Null effects of using a foreign language on cognitive reflection and numeracy

Moral judgements in a foreign language: Expressing emotions and justifying decisions

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