Perception of otherness and the degree of variability of moral emotions: An experience sampling study

Abstract

Objectives. Just as people have distinct attitudes toward others, they also experience qualitatively different emotions toward them. However, the relationship between variability in the emotional component of attitudes toward diverse targets remains under-researched. This study explored how positive and negative moral emotions relate to various categories of otherness, focusing on emotional intensity and variability, the tendency to report negative or positive emotions, and the association with personality functioning as a background indicator of mental health.
Sample and settings. Data were collected using the experience sampling method over the span of 30 consecutive days from three study groups (N = 144): 1) general population (GP, n = 52), 2) people with high neuroticism levels (HN, n = 40), and 3) individuals with personality disorders (PDs, n = 52). Participants rated the intensity of six moral emotions toward various forms of otherness, such as the self, close others, and national and ethnic minorities.
Statistical analyses. Multivariate mixed-effects models were used to account for repeated measurements of emotional intensity and within- and between-person variability over time across the three study groups.
Results. Significant between-group differences were found for (self-directed) anger and disgust; other emotions varied depending on the interaction between the study group and the category of otherness. The PDs group exhibited the highest within-person emotional variability. General time trends in emotional responses differed by group and otherness category. Contrary to expectations, personality functioning did not significantly explain these differences.
Limitations. Limitations include challenges in emotion differentiation, selection of otherness categories, and between-group differences in demographic characteristics.