Chelsea Schein

Chelsea Schein

Contact Information

  • office Address:

    627.2 Jon M. Huntsman Hall

Research Interests: empirical business ethics, moral psychology, political psychology, moral responsibility, political tolerance

Links: CV

Overview

Dr. Schein is a Postdoctoral Fellow and Lecturer in Legal Studies and Business Ethics at Wharton. She received her PhD in Social Psychology from UNC, Chapel Hill.  Dr. Schein has over 15 publications in top-tier academic journals as well as the New York Times. In her research, she adopt methods of social cognition to explore how people form moral judgments and how understanding our moral psychology can increase well-being and create a more tolerant society. Currently, she is examining how organizations can best navigate political polarization.

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Research

Understanding Moral Cognition

In my research, I use methods of social cognition to explore the underlying structure of moral judgments. More specifically, I look at how people form moral judgments, how emotions play a role in these judgments, and how moral judgments impact our perceptions of the world. My research suggests that at the heart of moral cognition is a harm based template of intentional agent + causing damage + suffering victim. This template guides our moral judgments, and also shapes perceptions. As soon as an act enters the moral sphere, our perceptions of reality are filtered through a harm shaped lens, making “harmless” moral violations theoretically possible, though psychologically rare.

Understanding and Navigating Political Polarization

In an era of fraught political debates, it might seem like there is an insurmountable divide between liberals and conservatives. One predominant model of morality suggests that moral differences in specific moral issues (e.g. same-sex marriage) reflect fundamental differences in our underlying moral psychology. In contrast, my research suggests that despite descriptive moral diversity, liberals and conservatives share a common moral template centered around harm. I am currently exploring whether appeals to this common denominator of harm can increase political tolerance.

Teaching

Current Courses

  • LGST100 - Ethics & Social Resp

    This course explores business responsibility from rival theoretical and managerial perspectives. Its focus includes theories of ethics and their application to case studies in business. Topics include moral issues in advertising and sales; hiring and promotion; financial management; corporate pollution; product safety; and decision-making across borders and cultures.

    LGST100006 ( Syllabus )

Past Courses

  • LGST100 - ETHICS & SOCIAL RESP

    This course explores business responsibility from rival theoretical and managerial perspectives. Its focus includes theories of ethics and their application to case studies in business. Topics include moral issues in advertising and sales; hiring and promotion; financial management; corporate pollution; product safety; and decision-making across borders and cultures.

Knowledge@Wharton

Can Algorithms Diagnose Disease Better Than Doctors?

Algorithms hold great promise for medical advancements. But two Wharton researchers warn it takes careful methodology and strong regulation in order for AI to boost patient outcomes.

Knowledge @ Wharton - 2019/04/25
How Can Sri Lanka Recover?

Following the Easter Sunday bombings, Sri Lanka must unite all forces to reclaim its hard-won peace of the past decade, say experts.

Knowledge @ Wharton - 2019/04/25
Incompetent Male Leaders: The Case for Talent Over Gender

In his new book, Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, the chief talent scientist at Manpower Group, examines myths about masculine management and explains why we need to value competence over confidence.

Knowledge @ Wharton - 2019/04/25