Speaking in a second language may shift your moral compass—but it can't overpower it

This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies. Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: In today's interconnected world, millions of people move between two or more languages every day. They may negotiate at work in one language, speak with family in another and follow news, entertainment and social media across several others.

Using multiple languages can deeply change the way a person sees the world. Research has suggested that thinking and speaking in different languages can fundamentally shift the way we reason and behave, and even change our morality. Some studies have suggested that using a second language encourages people to make more rational, utilitarian choices, meaning they prioritize the greatest good for the greatest number of people.

This is possibly because moral dilemmas feel less emotionally charged when processed in a second language. But the effect is not cut and dried—other studies have found little or no such effect. One reason for these mixed findings is that language is only one part of the story.

People do not enter a dilemma as a blank slate—they also bring values, past experiences and a sense of self. To date, most research has focused primarily on which language people use, while paying less attention to the person making the decision. One psychological characteristic that may partially explain these differences is a person's moral identity: how central morality is to their sense of self.

For some people, being honest, fair and compassionate forms an essential part of their self-concept, while for others, these qualities might not play such a strong role in their core identity. Researchers have consistently found that people with a stronger moral identity are more likely to behave ethically and to experience stronger emotional reactions when their values are challenged. Despite decades of research on bilingualism and moral judgment, very few studies have examined whether these cornerstones of human personality can explain how bilinguals make moral decisions.

To explore this question, we conducted a study. We recruited 106 native speakers of Greek with an upper-intermediate or advanced level of English. Participants responded to four moral dilemmas.