A Study On The Relationship Between Trait Awe And Moral Punishment From The Perspective Of Self-verification Theor

Nowadays,immoral behavior is highly prevalent,and regardless of how serious it is,it will have an effect on the moral standards of the society.And maintaining moral conscience and reinforcing moral order can be accomplished through prompt punishment and condemnation of immoral behavior.Compared with the punishment in the form of violence,moral punishment has become a necessity of social life because it has more moral value.As an important positive emotion,awe will have an impact on people’s moral behavior.However,research on the relationship between awe and moral punishment has found different conclusions.Some studies found that fear will increase people’s punishment,while others found that fear makes people more tolerant.There is no additional justification for this contradicting finding.Based on the self-verification theory,this study explored the self-verification effect and its boundary conditions.In other words,this study explored the impact of the moral identity framework on the relationship between trait awe and moral punishment,and the moderation effect of selfthreat.Study 1 adopted a single-factor(moral identity framework: leniency-is-moral condition,punitiveness-is-moral condition,control group)between-subjects design and surveyed 668 valid samples.The results found that: In ordinary immoral situations,people with high trait awe had the self-verification effect.Specifically,for those with high level of trait awe,the moral punishment scores of the participants in the " leniencyis-moral condition" identity framework group were significantly lower than those in the control group,while the moral punishment scores of the participants in the "punitiveness-is-moral condition " identity framework group were significantly higher than those in the control group.This indicated a self-verification effect.For those with low level of trait awe,there is no self-verification effect.Study 2 also adopted a single-factor(moral identity framework: leniency-is-moral condition,punitiveness-is-moral condition,control group)between-subjects design and surveyed 389 valid samples.Participants were asked to perform moral punishment in a scene of situations with higher degree of immorality.The purpose is to explore comprehensively and reveal the self-verification effect of people with high level of trait awe..The results found that: In situations with higher degree of immorality,people with high trait awe had the self-verification effect.Specifically,for those with high level of trait awe,the moral punishment scores of the participants in the " leniency-is-moral condition" identity framework group were significantly lower than those in the control group,while the moral punishment scores of the participants in the "punitiveness-ismoral condition " identity framework group were significantly higher than those in the control group.This indicated a self-verification effect.For those with low level of trait awe,there was no self-verification effect.Study 3 used experimental method,309 participants with high level of trait awe were selected.This study attempts to explore the boundary conditions for the selfverification effect of people with high level of trait awe,that is,when the selfverification effect will increase.This study used 2(self-threat,no self-threat)× 3(leniency-is-moral condition,punitiveness-is-moral condition,control group)completely randomized design.The results showed that the self-verification effect of the participants in the self-threat group was stronger,those with level of trait awe would more conform to the moral identity framework and made corresponding moral punishment decisions.To sum up,the conclusions of this study are as follows:(1)There is a self-verification effect between trait awe and moral punishment,that is,there is interaction between trait awe and moral identity framework.Specifically,for those with high level of trait awe,the moral punishment scores of the participants in the "leniency-is-moral condition" identity framework group is significantly lower than those in the control group,while the moral punishment scores of the participants in the "punitiveness-is-moral condition " identity framework group is significantly higher than those in the control group.This indicates a self-verification effect.For those with low level of trait awe,there is no such self-verification effect.(2)Self-threat moderates the self-verification effect between trait awe and moral punishment.Specifically,compared with the group without self-threat,people with high level of trait awe exhibit a more consistent level of moral punishment under the corresponding framework of moral identity when self-threat is triggered,which enhances the self-verification effect of people with high level of trait awe.From the perspective of self-verification theory,three studies have revealed the self-verification effect and boundary conditions of those who with high level of trait awe.It provides a new perspective to explain the previous debate on the relationship between awe and moral punishment,and further enriches the self-verification theory.