Computer Based Video and Virtual Environments in the Study of the Role of Emotions in Moral Behavior

The role of emotions in moral issues is an important topic in philosophy and psychology. Recently, some psychologists have approached this issue by conducting online questionnaire-based studies. In this paper, we discuss the utility and plausibility of using computer based video and virtual environments to assist the study of moral judgments and behavior. In particular, we describe two studies: the first one demonstrates the use of computer generated visual effects. This was for the design and implementation of an experimental study aiming at observing participants’ moral judgment towards an actor’s confession of a behavior with doubtful morality, during which the actor either blushed or not. In the second study, we examine people’s responses when confronted with a moral dilemma in a Virtual Environment.