Cognitive Models as Simulators: The Case of Moral Decision-Making

To achieve desirable performance, current AI systems often require huge amounts of training data. This is especially problematic in domains where collecting data is both expensive and time-consuming, e.g., where AI systems require having numerous interactions with humans, collecting feedback from them. In this work, we substantiate the idea of $\textit{cognitive models as simulators}$, which is to have AI systems interact with, and collect feedback from, cognitive models instead of humans, thereby making their training process both less costly and faster. Here, we leverage this idea in the context of moral decision-making, by having reinforcement learning (RL) agents learn about fairness through interacting with a cognitive model of the Ultimatum Game (UG), a canonical task in behavioral and brain sciences for studying fairness. Interestingly, these RL agents learn to rationally adapt their behavior depending on the emotional state of their simulated UG responder. Our work suggests that using cognitive models as simulators of humans is an effective approach for training AI systems, presenting an important way for computational cognitive science to make contributions to AI

Contribution of perceptual and emotional skills to moral decision-making

Moral decision-making is the ability to choose an optimal course of action based on a system of norms and values that guides our behaviour in a community. Even though the models of moral decision-making have mainly focused on cognitive reasoning and emotions, moral decisions - like all kind of decisions - are taken within a context and in interaction with environmental factors. Therefore, the role played by such factors is critical in order to explain how a decision is reached. In Chapter 1, after a systematic overview of the different theoretical models proposed to explain morality, I discuss the evidence in favour of the role played by sensory stimuli in moral choices, focusing on a recent meta-analysis (Landy & Goodwin, 2015a) that showed that besides vision, chemosensory stimuli play a central role in the moral decision process. Then, I explore the link between odours and morality, starting from the disgust emotion, arguing that olfactory stimuli could extend their effects to morality via mechanisms unrelated to disgust, as suggested by the shared neural underpinnings underlying olfaction and moral choices..

A Conceptual and Computational Model of Moral Decision Making in Human and Artificial Agents

Recently there has been a resurgence of interest in general, comprehensive models of human cognition. Such models aim to explain higher order cognitive faculties, such as deliberation and planning. Given a computational representation, the validity of these models can be tested in computer simulations such as software agents or embodied robots. The push to implement computational models of this kind has created the field of Artificial General Intelligence, or AGI. Moral decision making is arguably one of the most challenging tasks for computational approaches to higher order cognition. The need for increasingly autonomous artificial agents to factor moral considerations into their choices and actions has given rise to another new field of inquiry variously known as Machine Morality, Machine Ethics, Roboethics or Friendly AI. In this paper we discuss how LIDA, an AGI model of human cognition, can be adapted to model both affective and rational features of moral decision making. Using the LIDA model we will demonstrate how moral decisions can be made in many domains using the same mechanisms that enable general decision making. Comprehensive models of human cognition typically aim for compatibility with recent research in the cognitive and neural sciences. Global Workspace Theory (GWT), proposed by the neuropsychologist Bernard Baars (1988), is a highly regarded model of human cognition that is currently being computationally instantiated in several software implementations. LIDA (Franklin et al. 2005) is one such computational implementation. LIDA is both a set of computational tools and an underlying model of human cognition, which provides mechanisms that are capable of explaining how an agent’s selection of its next action arises from bottom-up collection of sensory data and top-down processes for making sense of its current situation. We will describe how the LIDA model helps integrate emotions into the human decision making process, and elucidate a process whereby an agent can work through an ethical problem to reach a solution that takes account of ethically relevant factors

Moral Development Theories: Controversy, Bias, and A New Perspective

This thesis examines the well-established Kohlberg hierarchical model of moral development and allegations of bias within the model. The Cognitive-Development approach to moral development, the Kohlberg model, and a counter-model proposed by Carol Gilligan are presented. The interview methodology commonly used by moral development researchers as well as the applicability of interview data to actual moral decision-making is questioned. A web model that includes the interactions of culture and education in moral modifications is presented as an original alternative to the step-wise models currently in use

Pengaruh Moral Kognitif Pada Kinerja Keperilakuan Dan Kinerja Hasil Tenaga Penjualan

Ethical decision making has become a critical issue as the pressure to improve the behavior of successful salespeople in all the current economic conditions. The values contained in the employees will affect the decision making of individuals or employees that will have an impact on organizational performance. Moral or cognitive moral is at the core of the most ethical decision-making models in the marketing and management. This study examined the effect of cognitive moral behavioral performance and  outcome performance of the sales force and influence behavioral performance in sales force outcome performance. By using simple linear regression method obtained  results that the  hypothesis that cognitive moral effect on behavioral performance of salespeople, singnifikan effect (b = -0.296; sig 0.000) supported. Hypothesis 2 is not supported, which suggests that moral considerations affect the outcome performance in this study were not significant (b = -0.122; sig .148). The next hypothesis states that behavioral performance positive influence on the outcome  performance of the support (b = 0.217; sig 0.009). To obtain the results of an individual's performance is good and responsible, it must enhance or improve the behavior of decision-making is based on cognitive moral salespeople. Performance results of the sales force increased when the behavior of salespeople work better and responsible

Dual process ethical decision-making models: need for empirical examination

The main purpose of the study is to examine various ethical decision-making models based on Dual Process Theory (DPT) and to determine the features of their application in business management. Systematization of the literary sources and approaches for solving the problem of managerial decision-making indicates that despite a significant number of data publications, the issue of the implementation and effectiveness of ethical models is poorly researched and requires a more detailed analysis. The object of research is secondary data contained in scientific articles published in journals. The paper examines the social-intuitive-emotional context of the ethical decision-making process, which can help understand the management context of these models. The results of the empirical analysis of the features of the use of the Social-Intuitionist (S-I), Cognitive-Intuitionist (C-I), and Cognitive-Affective models (C-A) models in the decision-making process proved the existence of significant differences between them. The methodological tools of the research were the theories of emotion and intuition, as they directly relate to the “Integrated Ethical Decision Making” (I-EDM) model, which is the most practiced in the actual business setting. The article proposes a conceptual integrated R-S-I-E Ethical Decision-Making model, which can be used in testing theoretical research questions and hypotheses related to business ethics. This model considers individual factors, personal moral philosophy (deontology, teleology), and the moral intensity managers feel during a moral dilemma. Based on the research results, the consequences of overcoming the gap between the existing theoretical developments on these issues and the peculiarities of the decision-making process in practice are summarized. The research results can be used in the empirical evaluation of ethical models in different cultural conditions (including India) and be helpful for the management of companies in making ethical decisions

Moral decision-making and moral development: Toward an integrative framework

How moral decision-making occurs, matures over time and relates to behaviour is complex. To develop a full picture of moral decision-making, moral development and moral behaviour it is necessary to understand: (a) how real-time moral decisions are made (including relevant social and contextual factors), (b) what processes are required to develop to enable mature moral decisions, (c) how these processes develop over time, and (d) how moral decisions relate to behaviour. In this paper, psychological and social neuroscience theories of moral decision-making and development are briefly reviewed, as is the development of relevant component processes. Various component processes and factors are seen as required for moral decision-making and development, yet there is no comprehensive framework incorporating these components into one explanation of how real-time moral decisions are made and mature. In this paper, we integrated these components into a new framework based on social information processing (SIP) theory. Situational factors, and how both cognitive and affective process guide moral decisions was incorporated into the Social Information Processing-Moral Decision-Making (SIP-MDM) framework, drawing upon theories and findings from developmental psychology and social neuroscience. How this framework goes beyond previous SIP models was outlined, followed by a discussion of how it can explai

A cognitive science analysis of the Quaker Business Method: is how it works why it works?

The Quaker Business Method (QBM) has been in development for over 300 years. Quakers believe that the QBM is an effective means for making decisions. This paper develops a tripartite theoretical framework to analyze the QBM in order to examine its efficacy, both in terms of the quality of its processes and the morality of its decisions. The framework encompasses: (1) a decomposition of the QBM as a set of tools; (2) a selection of theories and models from cognitive science that explain how humans think; (3) a set of relational models that can be used to objectively judge the morality of different forms of human behavioural interactions. Overall, it appears that QBM tools may counter the deficits in natural human abilities to reason and solve problems, and that they may promote decision making practices that are moral and that the resulting decisions, themselves, may be moral

Can cognitive psychological research on reasoning enhance the discussion around moral judgments?

In this article we will demonstrate how cognitive psychological research on reasoning and decision making could enhance discussions and theories of moral judgments. In the first part, we will present recent dual-process models of moral judgments and describe selected studies which support these approaches. However, we will also present data that contradict the model predictions, suggesting that approaches to moral judgment might be more complex. In the second part, we will show how cognitive psychological research on reasoning might be helpful in understanding moral judgments. Specifically, we will highlight approaches addressing the interaction between intuition and reflection. Our data suggest that a sequential model of engaging in deliberation might have to be revised. Therefore, we will present an approach based on Signal Detection Theory and on intuitive conflict detection. We predict that individuals arrive at the moral decisions by comparing potential action outcomes (e.g., harm caused and utilitarian gain) simultaneously. The response criterion can be influenced by intuitive processes, such as heuristic moral value processing, or considerations of harm caused

Emotional Carry-over in Ethical Decision Making: The Impact of Self-Control and Moral Potentcy

Recent theories have posited that emotions play a central role in ethical decision making. However, most research has focused on and suggested that consumers follow cognitive, rational processes in decision making. While this is a well-established approach, research regarding the role of emotions in ethical decision making has gained considerable theoretical attention in recent years. Although various factors have been investigated for the influence on ethical judgments, the role of task related, and incidental emotions have received less attention. Theoretical models that examine ethical decision-making conflict at times and are historically divided into either a rational-based approach or a non-rationalist-based (reason or emotive) approaches. More recent models posit an integrated or a dual-process approach to ethical decision-making, focusing more on the inter-related impact of intuition-emotion combined with reason-rationalization aspect of ethical decision-making. This research serves to examine the relationship of emotions in ethical decision making and behavioral intentions by investigating the effects of positive (happiness) and negative (anger) emotions in both a task related and incidental context. The scenario is presented in a consumer context of ethical judgments using a passive unethical behavior scenario. Research has focused on the effect of specific incidental emotions on ethical decision-making. This research focuses on the differing effects of specific incidental and task emotions in a service-based encounter. Self-control is utilized as a moderator of these emotions in ethical decision-making, and moral potency is further examined for inclusion into marketing literature. Based on a sample of 251 responses to an experimental scenario-based survey, this study found that the interaction between the task and incidental emotions does significantly impact ethical judgments and there is a moderating effect of self-control and moral potency. Consumers do not always behave in an ethical manner and will frequently accept an unethically obtained passive benefit. The results will facilitate an improved consideration of the role of the interaction of emotions on consumer ethics, an improved understanding of how to mitigate those emotions, and provide some understanding of how emotions impact unrelated judgments and decision-making