The Sense of Immorality Can be Purified by Water Splashing? The Influence of Cleansing Method on Moral Judgment and Behavioral Preference in Dai People

Feng Xiaohui; Zhang Hang; Zhang Jijia

doi:10.16719/j.cnki.1671-6981.20230606

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Journal of Psychological Science ›› 2023, Vol. 46 ›› Issue (6) : 1320-1328. DOI: 10.16719/j.cnki.1671-6981.20230606

General Psychology，Experimental Psychology & Ergonomics

The Sense of Immorality Can be Purified by Water Splashing? The Influence of Cleansing Method on Moral Judgment and Behavioral Preference in Dai People

Feng Xiaohui¹, Zhang Hang¹, Zhang Jijia²

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Abstract

Cleanliness is next to godliness. Although the metaphorical association between physical cleansing and moral concepts has been widely confirmed, it remains unclear whether the concept of cleanliness in different cultures affects moral cognition. The concept of cleanliness includes a sense of physical cleanliness and a sense of spiritual purification. Previous research has found that physical cleanliness (e.g., hand washing) can make moral judgments more severe. On the other hand, Dai culture endows the water splashing ceremony with a sense of spiritual purification. Water splashing as a ritual of interaction with others can purify both themselves and others. Therefore, it may make moral judgment less severe. Additionally, a threat to one’s moral purity induces the need to cleanse oneself. However, the difference between eastern and western cultures affects the choice of cleaning method. In Eastern culture, face represents dignity and achievement as a symbol of social self-image. Therefore, people in face cultures may choose face washing to remove the sense of guiltiness while Dai people may choose the water splashing ceremony. To clarify the influence of cleanliness concepts in different cultures on moral judgment and preference for cleaning methods and contrast the effects of spiritual purification and physical cleanliness, four experiments were conducted. In experiment 1, 58 middle school students were randomly selected, including 31 Dai (14 males) and 28 Han (17 males). The semantic priming paradigm was used to explore whether face washing, hand washing, and water splashing could activate the participants’ sense of cleanliness.

In experiment 2, 183 Dai (92 males) and 189 Han (97 males) participants were recruited to explore the effect of priming on moral judgment. The number of participants in each group was as follows: control group (47 Dai, 46 Han), hand washing priming group (45 Dai, 48 Han), face washing priming group (47 Dai, 48 Han), and water splashing priming group (44 Dai, 47 Han). In experiment 3, 363 Dai (107 males) participants were recruited to explore the effect of clean concepts on moral judgment. The number of participants in each group was as follows: control group (45), hand washing cleaning group (44), face washing cleaning group (43), water splashing cleaning group (48), hand washing purification group (44), face washing purification group (47), water splashing purification group (46), and water splashing over evil and bring good fortune group (46). In experiment 4, 200 Dai (108 males) and 200 Han (102 males) middle school students were randomly recruited to explore the participants’ preference for cleaning methods after recalling immoral events.

The study used SPSS 24 to perform analysis. The results of experiment 1 found that water splashing activated the Dai people’s sense of cleanliness, but had no effect on the Han people. Hands washing and face washing activated the sense of cleanliness in both groups. Experiment 2 showed that water splashing made Dai participants’ moral judgments less severe, but no effect was found in the Han groups. Hand washing and face washing made the Dai people and Han people’s moral judgment more severe. The results of experiment 3 showed that Dai people had a sense of spiritual purification of the water splashing ceremony. That is, the purification effect of water splashing made their moral judgments less severe. Hand washing and face washing activated the sense of physical cleanliness, which made the moral judgment more severe. In experiment 4, Dai participants preferred to splash water to purify their sense of immorality after recalling immoral events, while Han participants preferred washing their faces.

Taken together, there are cultural differences in the concept of cleanliness. Dai people regard water splashing as an important method of cleaning. The sense of spiritual purification endowed by culture to cleaning method that makes Dai people separate themselves from immorality. Spiritual cleanliness is different from physical cleanliness, it can more effectively eliminate the sense of immorality.

Key words

water splashing / culture / cleanliness concept / cleaning method / moral judgment

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Feng Xiaohui, Zhang Hang, Zhang Jijia. The Sense of Immorality Can be Purified by Water Splashing? The Influence of Cleansing Method on Moral Judgment and Behavioral Preference in Dai People[J]. Journal of Psychological Science. 2023, 46(6): 1320-1328 https://doi.org/10.16719/j.cnki.1671-6981.20230606

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