The Trajectory of Moral Judgments in Foreign Language: A MouseTracker Investigation

Research indicates that the language in which information is presented can influence decision-making, a phenomenon termed the foreign language effect (FLE). This effect includes changes in preferences, decisions, and judgments when using a non-native language. This effect has various reasons: the cognitive effort while using a foreign language and the emotional distance from a non-native language. In this study, we have explored this phenomenon on moral judgments. Previous research has shown that using a foreign language while responding to moral dilemmas increases the utilitarian (focusing on outcomes) compared to deontological choices (focusing on the act itself). Since the cognitive processes and motor movements are intertwined, hand movements can offer insights into underlying cognitive dynamics. Therefore, we aim to investigate the FLE with the MouseTracker technique in native Italian speakers who participate in the experiment either in Italian as their native language or in English as their foreign language.