Many people think that emotions don't play much of a role when it comes to our sense of right and wrong, but research suggests otherwise. When you consider how your partner feels about something, you may be more likely to perceive that situation as fair even if it doesn't seem entirely just. This effect has been studied extensively in psychology, and there are many reasons why it exists. For one thing, we tend to see things from the perspective of others who matter to us. If someone close to us is happy or upset about something, we'll naturally try to understand why they feel that way. We might even be willing to change our own opinions to accommodate their feelings. As a result, we can become more sensitive to their needs and interests.
Let's say that you and your partner want to go out to dinner tonight. You suggest eating at a fancy restaurant while she would prefer a casual place. She's excited because she wants to try new foods, while you're looking forward to getting dressed up for an evening out. In this case, her preference matters more than yours because you both care about each other's happiness. So you agree to have dinner at the casual place instead, even though you were hoping for something else. That's a simple example, but it illustrates how your partner's emotional state influences your perception of what's fair and reasonable.
But what about situations where there isn't necessarily a "right" answer? Say you and your partner have differing political views on important issues like taxes or immigration policy. How do emotions come into play here? Well, when you care deeply about someone, you may not always think logically about whether their beliefs align with yours. Instead, you might focus on their emotional experience of the situation. If they're passionate about a particular issue, you might empathize with them and try to understand their point of view. This doesn't mean you have to agree with them, but you're likely to see things from their perspective.
The same goes for distributing responsibilities within a relationship. When you share work, chores, and decision-making with another person, you have to take into account their feelings as well as your own.
If one of you is working long hours and the other has been stuck at home with the kids all day, it makes sense that they would feel more exhausted and overwhelmed. You can't simply assume that you should get a free pass to go out and enjoy yourself while they handle everything on their own. They deserve some time off too! And since they've been feeling tired all day, it's only fair that they get to choose what to do next.
Our emotional relationships shape our understanding of justice, fairness, and responsibility distribution in various ways. We tend to be more sensitive to others' needs and interests because we want to make them happy and avoid hurting them. This means that we're constantly making judgments based on how people around us are feeling. It also explains why sometimes we end up doing things we don't necessarily want to, like going out to dinner when we'd rather stay in or taking on extra chores after a long day at work.
How do emotional relationships affect perceptions of justice, fairness, and distribution of responsibilities?
Perceptions of justice, fairness, and responsibility tend to be influenced by emotional relationships. When individuals feel that they are part of a close emotional relationship with another individual, they may perceive them as more deserving of certain benefits and responsibilities than those who are not in such a relationship. This can lead to biases in how we view justice and fairness.