A Solution to the Mysteries of Morality

Autor/inn/en	DeScioli, Peter; Kurzban, Robert
Titel	A Solution to the Mysteries of Morality
Quelle	In: Psychological Bulletin, 139 (2013) 2, S.477-496 (20 Seiten) PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	0033-2909
DOI	10.1037/a0029065
Schlagwörter	Moral Values; Moral Development; Ethics; Social Networks; Conflict; Selection; Group Membership; Social Influences; Congruence (Psychology); Social Status; Interpersonal Relationship; Decision Making; Behavior; Psychological Needs; Altruism; Heuristics; Power Structure; Adjustment (to Environment) + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Moral value; Ethischer Wert; Moralische Entwicklung; Ethik; Social network; Soziales Netzwerk; Konflikt; Auslese; Gruppenzugehörigkeit; Sozialer Einfluss; Congruence; Psychology; Kongruenz; Psychologie; Sozialer Status; Interpersonal relation; Interpersonal relations; Interpersonelle Beziehung; Zwischenmenschliche Beziehung; Decision-making; Entscheidungsfindung; Altruistic behavior; Altruismus; Heuristik
Abstract	We propose that moral condemnation functions to guide bystanders to choose the same side as other bystanders in disputes. Humans interact in dense social networks, and this poses a problem for bystanders when conflicts arise: which side, if any, to support. Choosing sides is a difficult strategic problem because the outcome of a conflict critically depends on which side other bystanders support. One strategy is siding with the higher status disputant, which can allow bystanders to coordinate with one another to take the same side, reducing fighting costs. However, this strategy carries the cost of empowering high-status individuals to exploit others. A second possible strategy is choosing sides based on preexisting relationships. This strategy balances power but carries another cost: Bystanders choose different sides, and this discoordination causes escalated conflicts and high fighting costs. We propose that moral cognition is designed to manage both of these problems by implementing a dynamic coordination strategy in which bystanders coordinate side-taking based on a public signal derived from disputants' actions rather than their identities. By focusing on disputants' actions, bystanders can dynamically change which individuals they support across different disputes, simultaneously solving the problems of coordination and exploitation. We apply these ideas to explain a variety of otherwise mysterious moral phenomena. (Contains 2 figures.) (As Provided).
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Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2017/4/10