# Separate and unequal: Moral domains differ in corresponding social judgments of others

## TL;DR

This study shows that different moral domains lead to varied social judgments, with Equality and Property standing out as distinct.

## Contribution

The research introduces a new perspective on how moral domains uniquely influence social judgments and cooperation.

## Key findings

- Correspondent inferences and attributional bias vary across moral domains.
- Willingness to cooperate differs depending on the moral domain involved.
- Equality and Property domains are distinct in their social judgment implications.

## Abstract

Current research on morality supports the idea that the moral landscape is comprised of several domains. However, the extent to which these domains may be thought of as equivalent when used as the basis for forming impressions or making social judgments is not yet understood. Past literature suggests that there may be notable differences in the evolutionary and social development of different moral behaviors, which raises questions about how actions based in different domains may be interpreted and judged by others. Across three studies, we had participants evaluate social targets based on behaviors pertaining to the moral domains. Results showed that correspondent inferences, attributional bias, and willingness to cooperate differed across domains. Interestingly, the Equality and Property domains emerged distinct. This research contributes to contemporary morality literature and proposes a new direction for understanding how morality plays a role in social judgment.