Locomoting Larks and Assessing Owls: Morality from Mode and Time of Day

Moral psychology is used to explore the interaction between regulatory mode (locomotion; assessment) and diurnal preference (“early birds”; “night owls”). Moral and immoral behavior was partly explained by an interaction between regulatory mode and the time of day the task took place. In Studies 1a and 1b, we established a relation between self-reported diurnal preference and regulatory mode using both a chronic measure and an induction: stronger locomotion preferring an earlier time of day; stronger assessment preferring a later time of day. In Study 2, we show that those with a locomotion predominance were less likely to invest in a public good later in the day compared to those with an assessment predominance. Lastly, in Study 3, those induced into an assessment mode were more likely to cheat when randomly assigned to complete a task in the morning compared to those induced into a locomotion mode.

Download Full-text

Chronotype as self-regulation: morning preference is associated with better working memory strategy independent of sleep

SLEEP Advances ◽

10.1093/sleepadvances/zpab016 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

M Heimola ◽

K Paulanto ◽

A Alakuijala ◽

K Tuisku ◽

P Simola ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Working Memory ◽

Sleep Deprivation ◽

Spatial Working Memory ◽

Cognitive Task ◽

Self Regulation ◽

Time Of Day ◽

Mediating Effect ◽

Testing Time ◽

Memory Strategy ◽

Diurnal Preference

Abstract Study objectives We set out to examine how chronotype (diurnal preference) is connected to ability to function in natural conditions where individuals cannot choose their sleep schedule. We conducted a cross-sectional study in military conscript service to test the hypothesis that sleep deprivation mediates the adverse effects of chronotype on cognitive functioning. We also examined the effects of time of day. Methods 140 participants (ages 18-24 years) completed an online survey, including the Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ) and a Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB). Most (n=106) underwent an actigraphy recording. After bivariate analyses, we created a mediation model (self-reported sleepiness and sleep deprivation mediating effect of chronotype on cognition) and a moderation model (synchrony between most alert time and testing time). Results Reaction times in inhibition task correlated negatively with sleep efficiency and positively with sleep latency in actigraphy. There was no relation to ability to inhibit responses. More significantly, spatial working memory performance (especially strategicness of performance) correlated positively with morning preference and negatively with sleep deprivation before service. Synchrony with most alert time of the day did not moderate these connections. No other cognitive task correlated with morningness or sleep variables. Conclusions In line with previous research, inhibitory control is maintained after insufficient sleep but with a tradeoff of slower performance. The connection between morning preference and working memory strategy is a novel finding. We suggest that diurnal preference could be seen as an adaptive strategy, as morningness has consistently been associated with better academic and health outcomes.

Download Full-text

Cooperation and obligation in early parent-child relationships

Behavioral and Brain Sciences ◽

10.1017/s0140525x19002474 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 43 ◽

Author(s):

Ross A. Thompson

Keyword(s):

Social Norms ◽

Moral Psychology ◽

Close Relationships ◽

Social Agency ◽

Infant Survival ◽

Peer Experiences ◽

Early Experiences ◽

Early Parent ◽

Collaborative Skills ◽

Parent Child Relationships

Abstract Tomasello's moral psychology of obligation would be developmentally deepened by greater attention to early experiences of cooperation and shared social agency between parents and infants, evolved to promote infant survival. They provide a foundation for developing understanding of the mutual obligations of close relationships that contribute (alongside peer experiences) to growing collaborative skills, fairness expectations, and fidelity to social norms.

Download Full-text