Post-conventional moral reasoning is associated with increased ventral striatal activity at rest and during task

Abstract

People vary considerably in moral reasoning. According to Kohlberg’s theory, individuals who reach the highest level of post-conventional moral reasoning judge moral issues based on deeper principles and shared ideals rather than self-interest or adherence to laws and rules. Recent research has suggested the involvement of the brain’s frontostriatal reward system in moral judgments and prosocial behaviors. However, it remains unknown whether moral reasoning level is associated with differences in reward system function. Here, we combined arterial spin labeling perfusion and blood oxygen level-dependent functional magnetic resonance imaging and measured frontostriatal reward system activity both at rest and during a sequential risky decision making task in a sample of 64 participants at different levels of moral reasoning. Compared to individuals at the pre-conventional and conventional level of moral reasoning, post-conventional individuals showed increased resting cerebral blood flow in the ventral striatum and ventromedial prefrontal cortex. Cerebral blood flow in these brain regions correlated with the degree of post-conventional thinking across groups. Post-conventional individuals also showed greater task-induced activation in the ventral striatum during risky decision making. These findings suggest that high-level post-conventional moral reasoning is associated with increased activity in the brain’s frontostriatal system, regardless of task-dependent or task-independent states.

How are Moral Foundations Associated with Empathic Traits and Moral Identity?

“…Additional study findings support the point by demonstrating that postconventional moral reasoning is negatively associated with the endorsement of authority and tradition (Curtis et al, 1988;Lan et al, 2008) while positively associated with the endorsement of core moral principles, such as harm prevention and caring (Fang et al, 2017;Myyrya et al, 2010).…”

How are moral foundations associated with empathic traits and moral identity?

“…It is plausible to see such an association, because sophisticated moral reasoning, moral reasoning based on the postconventional schema, requires a capability to evaluate and deliberate upon existing social norms and conventions in a critical manner based on universal moral principles (Choi et al, 2020 ; Rest et al, 1999 ). Additional study findings support the point by demonstrating that postconventional moral reasoning is negatively associated with the endorsement of authority and tradition (Curtis et al, 1988 ; Lan et al, 2008 ) while positively associated with the endorsement of core moral principles, such as harm prevention and caring (Fang et al, 2017 ; Myyrya et al, 2010 ).…”

What We Have Learned about the Characteristics and Differences of Disaster Information Behavior in Social Media—A Case Study of the 7.20 Henan Heavy Rain Flood Disaster

“…The key characteristics of the 19-29 age group include obtaining a mature level of physical and psychological development and taking on societal responsibilities. The moral development of this age group is positive and normal, and they believe that upholding social order is a civic duty and that social norms and regulations should be observed, according to Kohlberg's "Heinz's drug theft" dilemma test [45], resulting in more positive and neutral information behavior. When tackling diverse, complicated challenges, the 30-49 age group eventually demonstrates a relativistic, flexible, and pragmatic way of thinking.…”