Beliefs about the Causal Interdependence of Virtues and Vices

How do people think different moral virtues and vices affect one another? For example, do they think that improving one virtue (e.g., honesty) will facilitate improvements in another virtue (e.g., compassion)? Do people believe in “master virtues” that, when improved, have disproportionate positive impacts on other moral virtues? Here, we holistically examine perceived causal interdependence among 15 moral virtues and 13 moral vices. Across four studies, participants indicated their beliefs about how increasing their virtues would impact their other virtues (Study 1; 275 Prolific participants), how increasing their vices would impact their other vices (Study 2; 423 undergraduate students), and how increases in virtues would affect vices (or vice versa; Studies 3–4; 337 undergraduate students and 298 Prolific participants). We find people generally believe in facilitation effects, where improving one trait improves other traits and worsening one trait worsens other traits. Specifically, people believe that increasing one virtue tends to increase other virtues (Study 1) and decrease other vices (Studies 3–4). Similarly, people believe that increasing one vice tends to increase other vices (Study 2) and decrease other virtues (Studies 3–4). Perceived tradeoffs were rare and involved laziness and cowardice decreasing or being decreased by other vices. There was little evidence for beliefs in a “master virtue.” However, we find some evidence that people think cruelty and greed are disproportionately impactful “master vices.” These results add to our understanding of lay moral concepts by holistically documenting people’s beliefs about the causal interdependence among moral virtues and vices.