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People attribute minds to robots, corpses that are targets of harm

Research suggests that people attribute more mind to entities perceived as targets of harm, including robots and corpses. This finding implies that moral intuitions lead to subjective perceptions of minds, which can influence decision-making on contentious issues like animal rights and end-of-life decisions.

SourceAssociation for Psychological Science·JournalPsychological Science·DateJun 17, 2013

Would you buy a product endorsed by Lance Armstrong?

A new study in Journal of Consumer Research found that consumers justify continued support for a celebrity or politician disgraced by scandal by separating moral judgments from professional performance. This allows them to avoid condoning immoral behavior and continue buying products endorsed by the public figure.

SourceUniversity of Chicago Press Journals·JournalJournal of Consumer Research·DateOct 22, 2012
Creality K1 Max 3D Printer

Creality K1 Max 3D Printer rapidly prototypes brackets, adapters, and fixtures for instruments and classroom demonstrations at large build volume.

Robots fighting wars could be blamed for mistakes on the battlefield

Researchers found that people attribute human characteristics and moral accountability to humanoid robots that can harm humans, even in non-life-threatening situations. This suggests that as robots become more sophisticated, they may be held responsible for causing harm.

SourceUniversity of Washington·JournalJournal of Human-Robot Interaction·DateApr 23, 2012

Suppressing feelings of compassion makes people feel less moral

A recent study published in Psychological Science found that suppressing compassionate feelings can lead to a decrease in morality. When participants were instructed not to feel sympathy or distress, they reported feeling less committed to following moral rules and being more flexible about morality.

SourceAssociation for Psychological Science·JournalPsychological Science·DateMar 15, 2012

Republicans and democrats less divided than commonly thought

A new study analyzing 40 years' worth of voter data suggests that Americans perceive more political polarization than actual differences exist between parties. Contrary to popular belief, those who perceive greater polarization are more likely to engage in politics, attend rallies, or donate to a party.

SourceSAGE·DateJan 27, 2012

Moral dilemma: Would you kill 1 person to save 5?

A study by Michigan State University researchers found that 90% of participants would reroute a runaway boxcar onto tracks with only one person, overriding the moral rule not to kill. The experiment explored how people come to their moral judgments and whether behavior follows suit.

SourceMichigan State University·JournalEmotion·DateDec 1, 2011
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

Apple iPhone 17 Pro delivers top performance and advanced cameras for field documentation, data collection, and secure research communications.

Are we more -- or less -- moral than we think?

A study by Rimma Teper and colleagues found that people's predicted moral actions don't always align with their actual behavior. The researchers discovered that emotions play a crucial role in driving moral decisions, particularly when individuals are contemplating their actions rather than facing the consequences of those actions.

SourceUniversity of Toronto·JournalPsychological Science·DateFeb 23, 2011

To escape blame, be a victim, not a hero, new study finds

A new study by researchers at the University of Maryland and Harvard University suggests that people who highlight past suffering are held less responsible for transgressions. In contrast, heroes receive more blame than villains, regardless of their previous good deeds.

SourceUniversity of Maryland·JournalJournal of Experimental Social Psychology·DateFeb 16, 2011
GoPro HERO13 Black

GoPro HERO13 Black records stabilized 5.3K video for instrument deployments, field notes, and outreach, even in harsh weather and underwater conditions.

Good sports: Coaches help athletes be more ethical

Researchers found that coaches provide moral guidance, with athletes evaluating the coach-athlete relationship before accepting ethical teachings. The study also identified four core moral values: discipline, respect, enjoyment of the sport, and striving to win.

SourceConcordia University·DateFeb 3, 2011

Did ancient coffee houses lay the groundwork for modern consumerism?

Early modern Ottoman coffeehouses offered patrons a space for transgressive pleasures, challenging state and religious authority. The establishments fostered the formation of a new consumer subject, resisting state prescriptions and constructing self-ethics.

SourceUniversity of Chicago Press Journals·JournalJournal of Consumer Research·DateAug 24, 2010

Emotions key to judging others

A new study suggests that emotions are crucial for making moral judgments. Patients with damage to the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (VMPC) have difficulty responding emotionally to hypothetical situations and may judge others' actions as morally permissible even if they intended harm.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalNeuron·DateMar 24, 2010
Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm)

Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm) tracks health metrics and safety alerts during long observing sessions, fieldwork, and remote expeditions.

Easily grossed out? You might be a conservative!

Two Cornell University studies found a correlation between being more easily disgusted and political conservatism, particularly in attitudes toward gays and lesbians. Disgust sensitivity was linked to opposition to gay marriage and abortion, but not to other issues.

SourceCornell University·JournalCognition & Emotion·DateJun 4, 2009

The 2 worlds of kids' morals

Research reveals marked gender and race differences in children's moral behaviors, both in the real and virtual worlds. African American children were more likely to view morally questionable virtual behaviors as acceptable when they benefited individual goals.

SourceSpringer·DateMar 2, 2009

U of T psychologists shed light on origins of morality

A study by U of T psychologists reveals a connection between moral disgust and primitive emotions related to poison and disease. The research found that people display similar facial movements in response to both moral and primitive forms of disgust.

SourceUniversity of Toronto·JournalScience·DateFeb 26, 2009

The more you take the more you lose

A study by Boaz Keysar and colleagues found that negative reciprocity, or taking, escalates in social exchanges, leading to irrational feuds. In contrast, acts of giving are perceived as more generous, encouraging pro-social exchanges.

SourceUniversity of Chicago·JournalPsychological Science·DateDec 17, 2008
DJI Air 3 (RC-N2)

DJI Air 3 (RC-N2) captures 4K mapping passes and environmental surveys with dual cameras, long flight time, and omnidirectional obstacle sensing.

Just look: When it comes to art, viewing may be as satisfying as buying

A new study by Yu Chen found that buying and viewing art share similar benefits, including the desire for aesthetics, sociality, and novelty. Collectors and visitors to galleries share common values but differ in their motivations, with collectors seeking a long-term intimate relationship with artworks.

SourceUniversity of Chicago Press Journals·JournalJournal of Consumer Research·DateDec 15, 2008

Group selection, a theory whose time has come ... again

David Sloan Wilson and Edward O. Wilson propose a new consensus and theoretical foundation for sociobiology, affirming Darwin's original conjecture that natural selection is a multilevel process. They show that adaptations can evolve at all levels of the biological hierarchy, from genes to ecosystems.

SourceUniversity of Chicago Press Journals·JournalThe Quarterly Review of Biology·DateNov 28, 2007

How do I love me? New study presents a twist on the conventional narcissist

A new study published in Psychological Science presents a twist on the conventional understanding of narcissism. Researchers found that narcissists actually view themselves positively in agentic domains, such as status and dominance, but not in communal domains like kindness and emotional intimacy.

SourceAssociation for Psychological Science·JournalPsychological Science·DateFeb 27, 2007

What does it mean to have a mind? Maybe more than you think

Researchers found that people perceive the minds of others along two distinct dimensions: agency (self-control, morality) and experience (feelings, sensations). This framework sheds light on moral and legal decisions and highlights the subjective nature of perceiving mental attributes in others.

SourceHarvard University·JournalScience·DateFeb 1, 2007
SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB

SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB transfers large imagery and model outputs quickly between field laptops, lab workstations, and secure archives.