Situational Moral Evaluations: The Role of Rationalizations & Moral Identity

Abstract

Objectives Criminological research increasingly aims to better understand criminal behavior in context. Recent advancements demonstrate how perceptions of legal sanction risk are anchored in reality and influence offending decisions. Yet research on extralegal considerations involving morality has not kept pace. Such research has downplayed situational moral dynamics in offending decisions. This study presents and tests a conceptual framework on personal and situational morality that features situational rather than decontextualized moral evaluations of crime opportunities. Enduring personal morality is captured with the concept of moral identity. Findings are presented on the interrelationship between situational inputs, moral evaluations, and moral identity. Methods Data are collected with a survey containing randomized experiments to a nationwide sample of respondents (n = 502). Findings Situational moral evaluations of specific crime opportunities vary positively with the presence of circumstances conducive to rationalizing the misconduct. There is also some indication that rationalization processes are more pronounced for individuals with stronger moral identities. Conclusions Criminological research should more closely target situational moral dynamics to better understand crime decision-making.