| Several studies have indeed demonstrated that guilt induces pro-social behavior to amend the hurt caused by one’s actions.The researchers called this "pro-social behavior" moral compensation,it can effectively relieve guilt.The present research try to reveals that the influence factors of moral compensation and the effect of moral compensation through experimental research.We use a real interaction to induce participants’ guilt,then investigate the effect of compensation objects(the victim/the third party)and victim’s characteristics on moral compensation and guilt reduction degree,simultaneous,investigate the role of self-esteem and moral judgment ability.Study 1 and study 2 reveals the effect of compensation objects on moral compensation,and research the role of self-esteem.The results show that:(1)participants have different compensation amount to different compensation objects:the compensation amount of the victims was significantly higher than that of the third party;(2)Although there were different amount of compensation for different objects,there was no significant difference in the degree of guilt reduction.Study 3 reveals the effect of victim’s perceptional characteristics to compensation amount and the degree of guilt reduction,and explores the role of moral judgment.The results show that:(1)warmth and competence significantly influence the compensation amount,the interaction of these variables is marginal significant;(2)victim ’s perceptional characteristics have no significant impact on the degree of guilt reduction;(3)the moral judgment ability significantly influences the relationship between warmth and the moral compensation level.Specifically,compared with the individuals with high moral judgment ability,warmth could strongly predict moral compensation level within individuals with medium and lower moral judgment ability.Final conclusion:guilty individuals do,indeed,assuage guilt through moral compensation.Not only will they compensate the "victim",but they also compensate the third party.Although there are significant differences in the level of compensation,it can both effectively reduce the sense of guilt.In addition,the level of moral compensation is affected by the victim’s perceptional characteristics and individual’s moral judgment ability:the high warmth-high competence victims have the most compensation level,but the low warmth-low competence victims have the least.And the moral judgment ability has a negative effect on the relationship between enthusiasm and compensation. |
