ABSTRACT

Two experiments tested the hypothesis that neurological abnormalities decrease punishment by decreasing perceptions of free will. Experiment 1 found that a brain tumor decreased punishment for criminal behavior by decreasing perceptions of the afflicted criminal’s free will. This effect was stronger for liberal and non-religious participants than for conservative and religious participants. Experiment 2 replicated Experiment 1 and additionally found that a brain tumor decreased perceptions of the afflicted criminal’s conscious decisions and true self, thereby decreasing perceptions of his free will, thereby decreasing his punishment. Collectively, these results suggest that neurological abnormalities decrease punishment by decreasing perceptions of free will, especially among liberals and non-religious people. These results also suggest that neurological abnormalities decrease perceptions of free will – and ultimately decrease punishment – by decreasing perceptions of conscious decisions and the true self.

摘要

两个实验检验了神经系统异常通过减少自由意志的感知来减少惩罚的假设。实验 1 发现脑肿瘤通过降低对受折磨的罪犯自由意志的感知来减少对犯罪行为的惩罚。这种影响对于自由派和非宗教参与者比保守派和宗教参与者更强。实验 2 重复了实验 1，另外发现脑瘤降低了对受折磨的罪犯的有意识决定和真实自我的感知，从而降低了对其自由意志的感知，从而减少了对他的惩罚。总的来说，这些结果表明，神经系统异常通过减少对自由意志的感知来减少惩罚，尤其是在自由主义者和非宗教人士中。