What is "behavioral ethics" primarily concerned with?

Behavioral ethics primarily focuses on understanding how psychological factors influence the way individuals make ethical decisions. This field examines various aspects of human behavior, such as cognitive biases, emotions, social pressures, and situational influences that can affect moral judgments and actions. By studying these factors, behavioral ethics aims to uncover why people sometimes act contrary to their own ethical beliefs, and it emphasizes the importance of recognizing these influences to promote better ethical decision-making.

The other choices, while related to ethics, do not capture the essence of what behavioral ethics specifically addresses. For instance, regulations governing ethical behavior pertain more to legal frameworks and compliance than to the psychological processes driving decisions. The philosophical foundations of ethical systems delve into theoretical discussions about what is considered right and wrong, rather than focusing on the behavior of individuals in real-world scenarios. The historical development of moral principles looks at how ethical beliefs have evolved over time, which is distinct from the focus on immediate psychological influences in behavioral ethics.