Sex Differences in Utilitarian versus Deontological Judgments in the Second Language

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Univeristy of Bojnord

2 University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand

3 University of Bojnord

4 Vanderbilt University

5 Khayyam University

6 Department of Persian language, Iranshahr university

Abstract

Past research has indicated that when people use their second language vs. their first language, they are more likely to pay more attention to the consequences/outcomes of their decisions, known as foreign language effect. In the current study, we examined how linguistic context (first vs. second language) and gender influence moral decision-making across six realistic trilemma scenarios, while also considering religiosity and decision time. 710 Iranian Persian-English bilinguals (both university students and high school students) across the country completed scenarios in either Persian or English, choosing among three options: utilitarian direct harm, utilitarian indirect harm, and deontological inaction. Analyses using linear mixed-effects models revealed that participants responding in English showed more utilitarian judgments overall, but this foreign language effect was not robust once scenario-level variability was taken into account, underscoring its context-dependent nature. Gender differences emerged as consistent and robust, with males favouring utilitarian choices and females endorsing more deontological responses. By contrast, religiosity and decision time showed no significant effects. These findings highlight that the foreign language effect is not a uniform shift toward utilitarianism but a context-sensitive process shaped by both individual and scenario-level factors.

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Technology Assisted Language Education
Volume 4, Issue 1
March 2026
Pages 111-134

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