The Role of Trait Empathy in Moral Decision Making: Findings From a Study on Borderline Personality Traits

Although moral decision making is generally associated with empathy, the role of trait affective empathy in moral choices is less explored. This study investigates how people with subclinical borderline personality (BP) traits—associated with heightened emotional sensitivity and affective empathy—respond to footbridge-type dilemmas involving deontological (refraining from sacrificing one) and utilitarian (sacrificing one) outcomes. Seventy-eight participants were assessed for BP traits via the Personality Inventory for DSM-5 and for trait empathy via the Interpersonal Reactivity Index, alongside measures of emotional and temporal responses linked to their moral decisions. The results revealed that people with higher BP traits presented greater personal distress and experienced stronger negative emotions (factual emotions) after their choice. Contrary to expectations, BP traits and empathy did not predict deontological decisions or reaction times. However, emotional lability, a subcomponent of BP traits, was associated with fewer deontological choices, indicating a preference for utilitarian decisions. These findings deepen our understanding of how emotional sensitivity influences moral decision making in nonclinical populations.