It is common to assume that people who act morally are normally

Question

It is common to assume that people who act morally are normally motivated to act so, while those who act immorally lack moral motivation. However, research carried out by Monin and Miller strongly points to the existence of a moral licensing effect, according to which the performance of morally commendable actions in turn licenses subjects to later engage in dubious behavior. This work suggests that individuals are motivated to perform moral acts not by innate goodness on their part, but by a desire to appear to be moral people, whether to themselves or others.

Researchers continue to disagree whether licensing is best understood as involving moral credentials, in which subjects interpret their later, dubious activity in terms of the moral identity they have supposedly established for themselves in prior acts, or as involving moral credits, where subjects see themselves as having built up a surplus that they can then “trade-in” by acting selfishly. The research strongly suggests, however, that individuals care about their moral self-image (how they think about themselves morally), and not merely about what others think of them. Khan and Dhar, for example, found that subjects who were asked to merely imagine performing a generous act, such as tutoring a student, were later less likely to donate a portion of their earnings to charity than those who were asked to imagine engaging in a morally neutral activity; that is, those who simply imagined their own generosity then gave themselves license to be selfish. If individuals are normally motivated to at least strive for a moral self-image in this way, we should not be too hasty to discount the common-sense assumption that moral motivation is typically behind moral action.    1 
 1 
 1. The author refers to a study by Khan and Dhar in order to demonstrate that

A. individuals can perform moral actions without giving themselves moral license
B. there is no correlation between individuals’ giving themselves moral license and individuals’ moral behavior
C. there is no relation between individuals’ moral self-image and their moral standards
D. individuals appear to take any kind of moral behavior to count toward or against their moral credits or credentials
E. individuals can give themselves moral license without performing any moral action

2 
 2. Which of the following results of a later study, if true, would weaken the conclusion stated in last sentence of the passage?

I. Subjects who, on a scale of generous to selfish, rated themselves as more generous were no more or less likely to act generously than subjects who rated themselves as more selfish.
II. Subjects who acted the most generously in a spontaneous situation were largely unable to identify clear reasons for their actions.
III. Subjects who acted generously in the first phase of an experiment were less likely to act generously in the next phase of the experiment.

A. I only
B. II only
C. I and II only
D. I and III only
E. II and III only

Jarvis07 · Accepted Answer

I think I can help with the second question.

Let us look at what the last sentence says:

It essentially means:  Based on what we have discussed so far,  Moral Motivation ==> Moral Actions  
Any option that breaks this logic will be our answer.

This option tells us that regardless of what subjects think of themselves regarding their generosity, their moral actions are same. In other words, motivations do not affect the moral actions of the subjects. This option would weaken the conclusion.

This option again says that the subjects are not able to identify the reason(s) for their moral actions. This means motivation is not present. Otherwise they would have been able to identify Motivation as one of the reasons. Hence, we see moral actions without moral motivation. This option, again, would weaken the conclusion.

We cannot draw any conclusion based on this statement regarding moral actions or motivations of the subjects. It is simply possible that some of the subjects were Morally motivated in the first phase of the experiments but lost the motivation in the next phase. We cannot conclude anything with this option.

Therefore, I and II it is. 
Option  C  should be correct.

BIGDAMNGOD · Answer

Experts can you please explain Q2? why is option B right?

Mavisdu1017 · Answer

Any expert would like to explain Q1? Why is D wrong?
Or where is the OE? Thanks

arya251294 · Answer

My reasoning for choosing option E -

those who  simply imagined  their own generosity then  gave themselves license to be selfish .

As mentioned in the line above, the study is talking about people who simply imagined that they performed a generous act (such as tutoring a student) were later less likely to donate a portion of their earnings to charity.

which tells us that - Individuals can give themselves moral license without performing any moral action
thus, option E

Not sure about Q2 though.

mitul19 · Answer

can anyone please explain Questionn 2?
Thanks

Ayushi2399Agarwal · Answer

Can anyone please give explaination to both the questions

Thanks in advance

nityabhasin2 · Answer

"If individuals are normally motivated to at least strive for a moral self-image in this way, we should not be too hasty to discount the common-sense assumption that moral motivation is typically behind moral action."

Can someone please elaborate on this line and tie it up with the passage?

Can someone please elaborate on this line and tie it up with the passage?

Ps1810 · Answer

Q2. Which of the following results of a later study, if true, would weaken the conclusion stated in last sentence of the passage?

I. Subjects who, on a scale of generous to selfish, rated themselves as more generous were no more or less likely to act generously than subjects who rated themselves as more selfish.

II. Subjects who acted the most generously in a spontaneous situation were largely unable to identify clear reasons for their actions.

III. Subjects who acted generously in the first phase of an experiment were less likely to act generously in the next phase of the experiment.

A. I only
B. II only
C. I and II only
D. I and III only
E. II and III only

I think I will take a shot at Q2
What we need to prove is Moral Motivation is not behind Moral Action.  .
So B clearly says that the subjects weren't able to identify the line of thought or motivation for their action. This is what we need to prove that MM doesn't lead to MA.
A says that everyone, From the most generous to most selfish person acted in a similar way. This again is what we need to prove. This says that there was not motivation.

urban_hide · Answer

D is actually framed according to the passage if we look for khan and Dhar statement option E would behave well

Ro_007 · Answer

The issue I have with Q1 is it asks "why does the author mention that".

When I look at the preceding statement to the example, which gives a pre-cursor to why an author mentions an example it seems to be mentioned to prove the point that "individuals care about their moral self-image (how they think about themselves morally), and not merely about what others think of them.", which when read with the earlier line of the 2nd para seems to point to Option D, rather than Option E, though the subsequent point to the example is in line with Option E.

What would be a thumb rule one can use to understand why author gives an example ?

Rickooreoisb · Answer

Why did the author mention Khan and Dhar? 
From the passage:
 They showed that  just imagining being generous made people act more selfishly later .
So the author used them to show:
 People can give themselves moral license  without actually doing anything moral .
So the correct answer is:
 (E) individuals can give themselves moral license without performing any moral action 
 
Why the others are wrong (quick)
(A) says people can do moral actions without licensing
 But the study showed the opposite — licensing happens.
(B) says there is no correlation
 But the study shows a strong link.
(C) says no relation between self-image and standards
 But the passage says people care about moral self-image.
(D) says any moral behavior counts
 But the point was  even imagined behavior  counts.

AbhishekP220108 · Answer

The Passage and Conclusion

The Conclusion:  The last sentence states:  "If individuals are normally motivated to at least strive for a moral self-image in this way, we should not be too hasty to discount the common-sense assumption that  moral motivation is typically behind moral action ."  The author acknowledges that people might do good act just to "license" bad ones later (moral licensing). However, the author argues that because people  care  about their moral self-image (feeling moral), this desire  itself  counts as "moral motivation." Therefore, the author concludes that moral motivation  leads to  moral action.

To  weaken  this conclusion, we need evidence suggesting that  moral actions are NOT driven by moral motivation

Analysis of the Options

Statement I: "Subjects who, on a scale of generous to selfish, rated themselves as more generous were no more or less likely to act generously than subjects who rated themselves as more selfish." 
 
  Analysis:  This statement breaks the link between  self-image  (how generous they think they are) and  action  (how generously they act). If people who see themselves as selfish act just as generously as those who see themselves as generous, then the "desire to maintain a moral self-image" is likely not the driving force behind the action. It suggests the action is independent of the specific "moral motivation" the author relies on. 
  Result:  Weakens the conclusion.

Statement II: "Subjects who acted the most generously in a spontaneous situation were largely unable to identify clear reasons for their actions." 
 
  Analysis:  If subjects cannot identify a reason for their action, it implies the action was not driven by a conscious or subconscious "striving for a moral self-image" or any distinct "moral motivation." It suggests the action might have been random, habitual, or purely situational, rather than motivated by the internal moral factors the author discusses. If there is no identifiable motivation, the claim that "moral motivation is behind moral action" is undermined. 
  Result:  Weakens the conclusion.  
 Statement III: "Subjects who acted generously in the first phase of an experiment were less likely to act generously in the next phase of the experiment." 
 
  Analysis:  This statement describes the exact phenomenon of  moral licensing  (doing good creates a surplus that allows you to be bad later). The passage actually  uses  this phenomenon to build its argument. The author admits this happens but argues that it proves people care about their self-image (they stop being good once they feel their image is secure). Since this fits the author's existing model, it does not weaken the final conclusion. 
  Result:  Does NOT weaken the conclusion.

Since Statements I and II weaken the conclusion, the correct choice is  (C) .

Sanjeev320051 · Answer

Question 1.- Why Not  B  ?. The illustration in the passage says that there is no correlation between what a person thinks of itself and his behavior. The para talks about both persons, one who thinks himself generous and one who think himself selfish. But  Option E,  talks about only one person. Whereas  Option B  takes both account into the matter. Anyone kindly explain this doubt. Thanks

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Hello Sanjeev320051

(B)  is rather opposite, and there is mention of correlation. Read the following lines from the passage:

“subjects who were asked to merely imagine performing a generous act ... were later less likely to donate a portion of their earnings to charity than those who were asked to imagine engaging in a morally neutral activity”

This directly shows a correlation between  imagining a moral act and reduced later charitable donation,  so there is a correlation between giving themselves moral license and subsequent moral behavior.  (B)  is incorrect.

It is common to assume that people who act morally are normally

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It is common to assume that people who act morally are normally

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