Exploring personality factors as modulators of the foreign language effect on moral decision-making

Abstract This study investigates how personality traits modulate the foreign language effect (FLe) in moral decision-making. Meta-analyses have shown that the FLe has a small-to-moderate effect size, suggesting that individual characteristics may constrain its impact. We hypothesized that traits promoting strong deontological tendencies would moderate this effect. Our results showed that lower conscientiousness and higher emotional stability were associated with more resilient deontological responses, showing reduced susceptibility to the FLe. However, deontological choices associated with lower extraversion were overridden in a foreign language. These findings offer the first empirical evidence that broad personality traits can modulate the FLe. Moreover, our results – statistically significant but modest in magnitude – highlight key methodological considerations, including dilemma types, trait measures, and sample characteristics. Finally, they also underscore the importance of examining more fine-grained personality constructs to better understand individual variability in the extent to which foreign language use shapes moral judgment.