Narratives, Imperatives, and Moral Reasoning

Arbeitspapier

By downplaying externalities, magnifying the cost of moral behavior, or suggesting not being pivotal, exculpatory narratives can allow individuals to maintain a positive image when in fact acting in a morally questionable way. Conversely, responsibilizing narratives can help sustain better social norms. We investigate when narratives emerge from a principal or the actor himself, how they are interpreted and transmitted by others, and when they spread virally. We then turn to how narratives compete with imperatives (general moral rules or precepts) as alternative modes of communication to persuade agents to behave in desirable ways.

Object Details

• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Series: IZA Discussion Papers ; No. 11665

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Wirtschaft ; Externalities ; Altruism; Philanthropy; Intergenerational Transfers ; Positive Analysis of Policy Formulation and Implementation ; Search; Learning; Information and Knowledge; Communication; Belief; Unawareness ; Network Formation and Analysis: Theory ; Micro-Based Behavioral Economics: Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making‡ ; Public Goods ; Illegal Behavior and the Enforcement of Law ; Transactional Relationships; Contracts and Reputation; Networks ; Economic Sociology; Economic Anthropology; Language; Social and Economic Stratification
• Subject: moral behavior ; prosocial behavior ; narratives ; imperatives ; justifications ; rules ; Kantian reasoning ; deontology ; consequentialism ; utilitarianism ; norms ; organizations

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): Benabou, Roland ; Falk, Armin ; Tirole, Jean
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (who): Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)
• (where): Bonn
• (when): 2018

Further information

• Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/185125
• Last update: 10.03.2025, 11:43 AM CET