Gray et al (2011) replication and extension

Abstract

Gray et al. (2011) demonstrated that body focus induces redistribution of mind perception (and infers different moral statuses) instead of de-mentalization as suggested by models of objectification. In a pre-registered experiment with an online Amazon Mechanical Turk American sample (N = 1009), we replicated Experiments Four and Five of Gray et al.’s (2011) study. We successfully replicated all the findings. We found support for a lower perceived agency (original: Hedges’ g = -0.58, 95% CI [-1.18, 0.02]; replication: Cohen’s d = -0.40, 95% CI [-0.56, -0.25]) and a higher perceived experience (original: Hedges’ g = 0.78, 95% CI [0.16, 1.39]; replication: Cohen’s d = 0.25, 95% CI [0.10, 0.40]) with increased body focus. We also found support for a lower perceived moral blameworthiness (original: Cohen’s d = 0.28, 95% CI [0.06, 0.50]; replication: Cohen’s d = 0.14, 95% CI [0.08, 0.20]) and a higher perceived capacity to be harmed (original: Cohen’s d = -0.35, 95% CI [-0.57, -0.13]; replication: Cohen’s d = -0.11, 95% CI [-0.17, -0.05]) with increased body focus. Taking the above, we found empirical support for Gray et al.’s ‘body focus inducing redistribution of mind perception’ effect and the ‘body focus inferring different moral statuses’ effect. Extending the replication, we failed to find support for a lower perceived moral praiseworthiness or a higher perceived capacity to feel pleasure with increased body focus. However, we found support for a higher attribution of moral blameworthiness than moral praiseworthiness, a positive association between perceived moral blameworthiness and perceived free will, and increased perceived agency and experience with mind focus. Lastly, we did an exploratory extension on perceived agency and perceived experience in Naked Condition.