Why did research participants state that they would kill one person to save five when it involved flipping a trolley switch but then refuse to apply the same "kill one to save five: when it involved pushing a person?

Question

Social Studies

Pecan

2 June, 23:45

Why did research participants state that they would kill one person to save five when it involved flipping a trolley switch but then refuse to apply the same "kill one to save five: when it involved pushing a person?

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Josiah · Answer 1

Because in the later scenario of pushing a person "the participants used the emotional part of the brain to refuse to push".

The process or act of pushing an individual is far more personal than simply handling a switch, flipping it to do the act. The act of pushing actually activates the emotional parts of the brain which affects our moral decisions.