Across six studies (N = 2646), we demonstrate the role that perceptions of predictability play in judgments of moral character, finding that people demonstrate a moral preference for more predictable immoral actors. Participants judged agents performing an immoral action (e.g., assault) for an unintelligible reason as less predictable and less moral than agents performing the same immoral action, along with an additional immoral action (e.g., theft), for a well-understood immoral reason (Studies 1–4). Additionally, agents performing an immoral action for an unintelligible reason were judged as less predictable and less moral compared to agents performing the same immoral act for an unstated reason (Studies 3–5). This moral preference persisted when participants viewed video footage of each agent's immoral action (Study 5). Finally, agents performing immoral actions in an unusual way were judged as less predictable and less moral than those performing the same actions in a more common manner (Study 6). The present research demonstrates how immoral actions performed without a clear motive or in an unpredictable way are perceived to be especially indicative of poor moral character. In revealing peoples' moral preference for predictable immoral actors, we propose that perceptions of predictability play an important, yet overlooked, role in judgments of moral character. Furthermore, we propose that predictability influences judgments of moral character for its ultimate role in reducing social uncertainty and facilitating cooperation with trustworthy individuals and discuss how these findings may be accommodated by person-centered theories of moral judgment and theories of morality-as-cooperation.

跨越六项研究（N = 2646），我们证明了可预测性的看法在道德品格判断中的作用，发现人们表现出对更可预测的不道德行为者的道德偏好。参与者认为，与出于众所周知的不道德原因而执行相同不道德行为的代理人以及额外的不道德行为（例如盗窃）相比，出于难以理解的原因而执行不道德行为（例如，袭击）的代理人更难以预测且更不道德。研究 1-4）。此外，与出于未说明原因执行相同不道德行为的代理相比，出于不可理解的原因执行不道德行为的代理被判断为更难以预测且更不道德（研究 3-5）。当参与者观看每个代理人不道德行为的视频片段时，这种道德偏好仍然存在（研究 5）。最后，与以更常见的方式执行相同行为的行为者相比，以不寻常的方式执行不道德行为的行为体被认为更难以预测且更不道德（研究 6）。目前的研究表明，没有明确动机或以不可预测的方式进行的不道德行为如何被视为特别表明道德品质不佳。在揭示人们对可预测的不道德行为者的道德偏好时，我们提出可预测性的看法在道德品质判断中起着重要但被忽视的作用。此外，