The Influence of Mental Imagery Vividness on Second Language Moral Dilemma Decision Making.

Abstract

Prior research found that moral dilemmas read in a foreign language experience the Foreign Language Effect (FLE), where logical responses are favored more than in their native language. FLE is assumed to be caused by diminished mental imagery often observed in foreign language reading. The current study explores how mental imagery influences moral dilemma decision-making in a foreign language. Two groups were presented with a pre-posttest moral dilemma scenario in their second language. One group received mental imagery instruction before the second dilemma, while the other did not. The group that received the instruction showed a marginal increase in deontological choices in post-test conditions. The group also expressed a significant increase in the vividness of the moral dilemma characters post-test scenario. Based on the results, we argue that encouraging mental imagery could increase story immersion and deontological decisions despite the initially low imagery and FLE.