Moral identity outweighs language choice in ethical decision making

Researchers tested 106 native Greek speakers with advanced English skills to see if switching languages changed how they solved moral dilemmas.

The study examined four scenarios involving sacrificial harm, honesty, and interpersonal trust. Participants completed the tasks in either Greek or English to determine if the foreign language effect caused more utilitarian choices. The results showed that switching from Greek to English did not change the participants' final decisions.

People did not become more likely to choose utilitarian options, such as sacrificing one person to save many, simply by using a second language. This finding suggests that the influence of language on morality is not universal and may be secondary to individual personality traits. The study found that a person's moral identity, how much they value honesty and fairness as part of their self-concept, was the strongest predictor of their choices.

Participants with a stronger moral identity reported more intense emotional reactions and were more likely to reject dishonest actions. While people felt stronger emotions in English, these feelings did not alter their moral judgments. The researchers also observed that speaking a first language made participants feel more connected to their own moral identity. This may happen because a first language is tied to childhood and the social environments where people first learn values.

However, this change in self-perception did not change the participants' commitment to acting on their principles.