Overview
Ethics asks what we should do. Moral psychology asks why we actually do what we do. It studies the brain, emotions, and evolution of morality.
Core Idea
Moral Intuitionism (Haidt): The elephant and the rider. Our moral judgments are mostly driven by quick, emotional intuitions (the elephant). Reasoning (the rider) comes later to justify what the elephant already decided.
Formal Definition (if applicable)
Moral Foundations Theory: Morality is built on 6 foundations: Care/Harm, Fairness/Cheating, Loyalty/Betrayal, Authority/Subversion, Sanctity/Degradation, and Liberty/Oppression. Liberals focus on Care and Fairness; Conservatives value all 6.
Intuition
Why does incest feel wrong even if they use protection and no one gets hurt? (Moral Dumbfounding). Your gut says “Yuck,” and your brain struggles to find a reason.
Examples
- Trolley Problem Studies: Most people will pull a lever to save 5, but won’t push a fat man to save 5. Why? (Pushing feels more personal/violent).
- Psychopathy: People who lack empathy and guilt. They know the rules but don’t feel them.
- Altruism: Why do we help strangers? (Evolutionary puzzle).
Common Misconceptions
- “Morality is purely rational.” (It’s heavily emotional.)
- “We are born blank slates.” (Babies show preferences for helpful puppets over mean ones.)
Related Concepts
- Kohlberg’s Stages: A theory of how moral reasoning develops in children.
- Empathy: The ability to feel what others feel.
- Situationism: Context affects behavior more than character (e.g., finding a dime makes you more likely to help someone).
Applications
- Politics: Understanding why the other side thinks you are evil.
- Education: Teaching empathy.
- Law: Understanding criminal responsibility.
Criticism / Limitations
Just because something is “natural” (evolutionary) doesn’t mean it’s “good” (Naturalistic Fallacy).
Further Reading
- Haidt, The Righteous Mind
- Greene, Moral Tribes