Rinke, Monja (2025) If Only We Had Found an Effect: The Effect of Upward Counterfactual Thoughts and the Foreign Language Effect on Blame Assignment. Bachelor thesis, Psychology.
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Abstract
This study investigates the relationship between the Foreign Language Effect (FLE) and upward counterfactual thinking in the context of moral blame assignment. The FLE has primarily been observed in moral decision-making. We specifically aimed to explore the context of moral blame assignment and looked at whether the presence of mutable (“if only”) outcomes in a morally ambiguous scenario would lead to increased blame assignment, particularly when presented in the native language (NL) versus a foreign language (FL). Participants (N = 595), all native Spanish speakers with English proficiency, were randomly assigned to read either a mutable or immutable version of the scenario in their NL or FL. Blame, emotionality, and related constructs were subsequently measured using quantitative scales. The results indicated a main effect of mutability on blame, with higher blame ratings in the mutable condition. A secondary analysis did not find a significant difference. Unexpectedly, the NL condition resulted in lower blame compared to the FL condition, suggesting a reversed FLE. No interaction between language and mutability was found. Emotionality significantly correlated with blame, supporting the Reduced Affect Hypothesis, although interpersonal contact during FL acquisition did not predict emotional responses. The findings suggest that counterfactual thinking, together with culpable control, increases blame assignment, but the FLE might not extend to all moral evaluations equally, or differently than expected. However, the unexpected overall low blame and emotionality ratings across all conditions indicate a morally weak scenario, possibly affecting the results. Future studies should strengthen emotional engagement and moral structure in scenarios to better define the boundaries of the FLE.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Bachelor) |
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| Supervisor name: | Epstude, K. |
| Degree programme: | Psychology |
| Differentiation route: | None [Bachelor Psychology] |
| Date Deposited: | 17 Jul 2025 09:37 |
| Last Modified: | 17 Jul 2025 09:37 |
| URI: | http://gmwpublic.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/5615 |
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