Papers
2
Total Citations
29
H-Index
2
About
Irene Arnaldo is a researcher at the intersection of moral psychology and social neuroscience, exploring how hierarchical structures shape human behavior. Her work investigates the psychological and neural mechanisms underlying moral disinhibition when individuals act as commanders versus intermediaries in chains of command. In her most-cited study (2022, 25 citations), she uses fMRI to reveal how diffusing responsibility along a hierarchy can disinhibit antisocial actions, shedding light on the brain mechanisms that enable individuals to commit harmful acts without feeling personally accountable. This research has profound implications for understanding obedience, authority, and moral agency in organizational and military contexts. Arnaldo’s work bridges experimental psychology and neuroscience, offering empirical evidence for how social roles modulate ethical decision-making. Her contributions are particularly relevant to scholars studying moral cognition, social influence, and the psychology of bureaucracy. By demonstrating that even simple intermediaries show altered neural responses during moral dilemmas, Arnaldo challenges assumptions about personal responsibility and highlights the subtle ways hierarchies can erode moral boundaries. Her findings continue to inform debates in ethics, law, and organizational behavior.
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