The Role of Social Expectations in Forming Moral Judgments Sonya Sachdeva and Rumen Iliev Northwestern University It is far better to discharge one’s prescribed duties, even though faultily, than another’s duties perfectly. (Bhagavad Gita, chapter 3, verse 35) It is one of the hallmarks of moral values that they do not rely on the customs of a particular society or the conveniences of particular factions (Turiel, Killen, & Helwig, 1987). Contrast this to conventional or other social norms which are fluid and adaptable to various situations. Yet, it appears that moral rules are not always treated as such 1 . People have different expectations of moral behavior depending on whom that behavior is directed toward. For example, avoiding full disclosure is immoral for a friend but not for a stranger (Baron & Haidt, 1996). And, people are sensitive to power relations when making culpability judgments (Hamilton and Saunders, 1981). The meaning of behavior changes depending on who it is directed toward. Whether you are a Republican or a Democrat, or from the high end of the social totem pole or the low end, affects how you view the world and also your definitions of what is right and wrong (Haidt, Koller, & Dias, 1993; Harkness, Edwards, Super, 1981).