Revisiting the foreign language effect on moral decision-making: a closer look at the role of perverse responses

• Published in: Journal of multilingual and multicultural development Vol. 46; no. 4; pp. 1334 - 1352
• Main Authors: Feng, Chun, Liu, Chuanjun, Nolasco, Edgar Emmanuel
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Abingdon Routledge 21.04.2025; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Action; Algorithms; CAN algorithm; CNI model; Decision making; Dissociation; Foreign language effect; Foreign languages; French as a second language; Inhibition; Mediation; moral dilemma; Moral Issues; Moral judgment; Native language; Native languages; Norms; perverse responses; Second Languages; Value Judgment
• ISSN: 0143-4632; 1747-7557
• DOI: 10.1080/01434632.2023.2237936

The present study examined the potential bias of foreign language effect (FLE) on moral judgment by considering the confounding influence of perverse responses. A perverse response is a reaction that contradicts both norms and consequences, that is, participants choose to take action (or inaction) when both norms and consequences require inaction (or action). We predicted that using a foreign language, compared to a native language, would elicit more perverse responses, thereby confounding the participants' moral judgments. To test our prediction, we distinguished between active and inhibitory perverse responses and re-analyzed the raw data from a previous FLE study using four approaches: the traditional dilemma paradigm, the process dissociation model, the consequence-norm-generalised inaction/action (CNI) model, and the consequence-overall action/inaction-norm (CAN) algorithm. The results of the mediation analyses consistently showed that active and inhibitory perverse responses mediate the effects of foreign/native language on moral decisions in all the four approaches. The results suggest that individuals using a foreign language tend to exhibit more active and inhibitory perverse responses, which in turn influence their moral decisions. Addressing this issue could help clarify the FLE on moral decision-making.