ABSTRACT
Long is the list of factors that can cause a person to act in ways that others consider to be immoral or moral. The person who believes that sharing one’s wealth with others who are less fortunate is a moral duty is more likely to donate to charities. Many psychological explanations of morality also assume moral judgments are the precursors of moral behavior. Acting morally or immorally, however, does not have the same emotional implications for everyone. Aristotle suggested that negative emotions, such as shame, guide individuals away from moral temptation, but he also suggested that positive emotions, including happiness, are the rewards people accrue by acting morally. Very few studies have directly assessed the causal chain leading from variations in ethics position to happiness and well-being. Both philosophical and psychological analyses of ethical judgment and action assume morality provides the foundation for a healthy, happy life. The link between moral beliefs and moral behavior has long-intrigued psychologists.
