Episodic Simulation In Moral Behavior: Inflation Or Inhibition?

The role of episodic simulation in moral behavior has received more attention recently. We use the text priming paradigm to verify two opposing theories—the imagination inhibition hypothesis and the imagination inflation hypothesis—in the context of Chinese moral culture. Furthermore, the mechanism and influencing factors were explored. In Experiment 1, participants reported being more likely to engage in low immoral behavior after simulation, while there was no significant change for high immoral behavior. This effect is achieved through an increase in vividness and rationality. Based on Experiment 1, Experiment 2 further found that the actual immoral behavior increased significantly after simulation, regardless of immorality level. This facilitation is also influenced by the moral character of the individual.