The two-factor structure of harm aversion and the mechanism underlying its function of resisting aggression

Abstract: Harm aversion is a core component of human morality that prevents individuals from harming others and is crucial for biological evolution. It has the positive functions of reducing immoral behavior (such as aggression) and increasing prosocial behavior. Individuals who lack harm aversion may exhibit increased antisocial behavior, which in turn, may cause significant harm to other individuals and society in general. Therefore, exploring the concept of harm aversion has significant theoretical and practical value. However, it remains unclear whether harm aversion is composed of two relatively independent factors and how these two factors differ in their functions and mechanisms related to the inhibition of aggression. This study hypothesized that harm aversion comprises two independent factors: harm action aversion and harm outcome aversion. Additionally, both harm action aversion and harm outcome aversion can inhibit aggression, and moral disengagement is a crucial cognitive mechanism through which harm aversion inhibits aggression.
A pilot study and three formal experiments were conducted to test these hypotheses. In the pilot study (N=40), incongruent conditions and congruent conditions based on the process dissociation procedure were developed to separate harm action aversion and harm outcome aversion. Participants completed the harm action/outcome aversion dissociation task, assessed the difficulty of choice and imagination, and provided suggestions for modifications. In Experiment 1 (N=287), the modified harm action/outcome aversion dissociation task was used. The validity of this task was examined using criterion variables such as empathy, moral judgment, deontology parameter, psychopathy, physical aggression, and verbal aggression. Experiments 2a (N=423) and 2b (N=107) explored whether moral disengagement mediated the relationship between harm action/outcome aversion and aggression. Specifically, Experiment 2a used questionnaires to measure moral disengagement and aggression, while Experiment 2b employed an aggression task to measure moral disengagement and aggressive behavior levels.
The pilot study demonstrated that the process dissociation procedure could effectively separate harm action aversion and harm outcome aversion. Experiment 1 found no significant correlation between harm action aversion (Parameter A) and harm outcome aversion (Parameter O). Both Parameters A and O were positively correlated with harm action aversion scores, empathy, moral judgment, and deontology parameter, and negatively correlated with psychopathy and physical aggression. Compared to Parameter A, Parameter O showed stronger relationships with empathy, psychopathy, and verbal aggression. The correlation between Parameter A and harm outcome aversion was not significant. In Experiments 2a and 2b, harm outcome aversion negatively predicted aggression through the mediating effect of moral disengagement. However, while Experiment 2a showed a mediating effect in that harm action aversion negatively predicted physical aggression through moral disengagement, this mediating effect was not significant in Experiment 2b.
These results suggest, therefore, that harm aversion comprises two independent factors: harm action aversion and harm outcome aversion. Harm outcome aversion can inhibit aggression through moral disengagement, but the inhibitory effect of harm action aversion on aggression and moral disengagement is not robust. In developing a research tool for harm aversion, testing the two-factor structure of harm aversion, and examining its cognitive and behavioral differences in inhibiting aggression, this study revealed that moral disengagement is an important cognitive pathway through which harm aversion inhibits aggression. The findings contribute to the theoretical development of harm aversion, and they advance research on the relationship between moral emotions and aggression. This has significant implications for the prevention and intervention of aggressive behavior, as well as practical applications in moral education.