How do personal biases impact ethical judgments?

Personal biases can significantly distort perceptions of ethics because they influence how individuals interpret situations, assess information, and arrive at conclusions. Biases arise from a variety of factors, including cultural background, personal experiences, and emotional states, which can shape one’s values and beliefs. When making ethical judgments, if an individual allows their biases to influence their perspective, they may overlook important factors, misinterpret ethical principles, or create a justification for actions that may not align with universally accepted ethical standards.

For example, someone who holds a strong bias toward a specific demographic may undervalue ethical considerations that apply to that group, leading to unfair or unjust conclusions. This distortion can therefore lead to decisions that are not based on a fair or objective analysis of the ethical situation at hand, ultimately undermining the integrity of the ethical decision-making process.