The Righteous Mind

1. Intuitions come first, strategic reasoning second

The rider (reasoning) is not so much the Platonic charioteer as the elephant's (intuition's) full-time public relations firm.

The social intuitionist model presents a challenge to traditional rationalist views on moral judgment. This perspective suggests that moral decisions are primarily the result of rapid, automatic intuitions, while conscious reasoning serves largely as a secondary process to justify those initial reactions. This explains why individuals often experience moral dumbfounding, a state where they maintain a strong moral conviction despite being unable to provide a logical explanation for it.

The relationship between intuition and reasoning can be understood through the metaphor of an elephant and its rider:

• The elephant represents intuitive and emotional responses.
• The rider represents conscious, analytical thought.
• The rider's main function is to act as a spokesperson, providing justifications for the elephant's movements.

This dynamic illustrates why logical arguments frequently fail to change opinions in professional or social debates. Because people rarely alter their positions based on reason alone, effective communication often requires addressing the intuitive "elephant" rather than focusing solely on the "rider."

2. There's more to morality than harm and fairness

Care and fairness are important, but there are several other moral foundations that matter to people around the world.

Moral Foundations Theory suggests that the scope of human morality is broader than the Western emphasis on harm prevention and fairness. The theory identifies six universal foundations that serve as the basis for moral systems:

1. Care/harm
2. Fairness/cheating
3. Loyalty/betrayal
4. Authority/subversion
5. Sanctity/degradation
6. Liberty/oppression

Cultural variations in morality depend on which of these foundations a society prioritizes. For instance, Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic (WEIRD) cultures tend to focus almost exclusively on care and fairness. In contrast, many other global cultures place significant importance on loyalty, authority, and sanctity. Recognizing these diverse moral frameworks is essential for navigating cross-cultural interactions and understanding differing political or social values.

3. Morality binds and blinds

Morality binds us into ideological teams that fight each other as though the fate of the world depended on our side winning each battle.

Morality acts as a social mechanism that enables human groups to function effectively. It facilitates cooperation within a group, establishes shared values, and allows for coordination on a massive scale. By creating a unified identity, morality serves as the "glue" that holds communities together.

However, this binding effect also has a restrictive side:

• it fosters tribalism and creates conflict between different groups.
• It can obscure the potential merits of alternative moral frameworks.
• It often prevents individuals from empathizing with or understanding those who hold different values.

This dual nature helps explain why ideological and religious conflicts are often difficult to resolve. While morality encourages virtue within a team, it can simultaneously justify hostility toward outsiders. Moving beyond these "moral bubbles" requires a deliberate effort to engage with diverse perspectives.

4. We are 90% chimp and 10% bee

Human beings are the giraffes of altruism. We're one-of-a-kind freaks of nature who occasionally—even if rarely—can be as selfless and team-spirited as bees.

Multilevel selection theory provides an evolutionary framework for understanding human nature, suggesting that humans evolved through two distinct pressures. Individual selection promoted self-interested behaviors, while group selection favored traits that enhanced cooperation and altruism. This results in a dual nature where humans are capable of both selfish rationalization and genuine self-sacrifice for the sake of the collective.

Humans have developed several group-level adaptations, including:

• The ability to pursue shared goals through collective intentionality.
• The experience of collective effervescence during group activities.
• A "hive switch" that allows individuals to move beyond personal interest.

Understanding these traits allows for the design of institutions and work environments that effectively utilize human group tendencies. It also highlights the importance of shared rituals in building social cohesion and the ongoing balance between individual and group needs.

5. Religion is a team sport

Religions are moral exoskeletons. If you live in a religious community, you are enmeshed in a set of norms, relationships, and institutions that work primarily on the elephant to influence your behavior.

Viewed as a cultural adaptation, religion performs vital social functions by binding individuals into moral communities. It uses shared rituals, symbols, and norms to build trust and facilitate cooperation among members. This evolutionary perspective suggests that religious practices coevolved with human culture to solve problems related to collective action, contributing to the survival and success of groups.

The communal nature of religion explains several social phenomena:

• Members of religious communities often possess higher levels of social capital.
• Secular organizations may find it difficult to replicate the same level of group bonding found in religious structures.
• Analyzing religion requires a focus on group-level dynamics rather than just individual beliefs.

6. Moral matrices vary across cultures and political ideologies

Morality binds and blinds. It binds us into ideological teams that fight each other as though the fate of the world depended on our side winning each battle. It blinds us to the fact that each team is composed of good people who have something important to say.

Moral matrices are the underlying frameworks that shape how various groups perceive and evaluate ethical issues. These frameworks differ significantly across the political spectrum:

• Liberals generally prioritize the foundations of care and fairness.
• Conservatives tend to utilize all six moral foundations with more equal weight.
• Libertarians focus primarily on liberty and the concept of fairness as proportionality.

Acknowledging these distinct matrices can lead to more effective communication and a reduction in political polarization. The central challenge of moral diversity involves recognizing that other frameworks have internal logic and finding common ground despite differing ideological priorities.

7. Moral capital is crucial for societal functioning

Moral capital refers to the resources that sustain a moral community.

Moral capital consists of the shared norms, values, and institutional trust that allow a society to operate harmoniously. This capital includes interpersonal trust, a shared sense of identity, and respect for established social systems. Its presence is vital for the stability of political frameworks and the success of cooperative projects, particularly during times of crisis.

Modern societies face several threats to moral capital, such as:

• Disruption caused by rapid technological and social changes.
• A rise in individualism that may weaken community bonds.
• The decline of traditional institutions that previously upheld social norms.

A significant challenge for contemporary leadership and policy is finding a way to advance social progress without depleting the moral capital necessary for societal stability.

8. The righteous mind has six taste receptors

The righteous mind is like a tongue with six taste receptors.

The human moral sense can be compared to a tongue with six innate "taste receptors" that respond to different social situations:

1. Care/harm: A reaction to suffering and the need for protection.
2. Fairness/cheating: A focus on justice and reciprocal behavior.
3. Loyalty/betrayal: A preference for group unity and fidelity.
4. Authority/subversion: A respect for traditional hierarchies and social order.
5. Sanctity/degradation: A desire for purity and a revulsion toward contamination.
6. Liberty/oppression: An instinctive resistance to domination by others.

This model implies that while morality is an innate human trait, its expression varies by culture. Different groups "season" their moral systems by emphasizing different foundations. This theory can be applied to analyze political messaging, improve educational approaches, and facilitate better conflict resolution in diverse environments.

9. Genes and cultures coevolve to shape our moral instincts

We're all stuck here for a while, so let's try to work it out.

The development of human morality is the result of gene-culture coevolution, where biological traits and cultural practices influence each other over time. Genetic predispositions help shape the types of cultures humans build, while those cultures create environments that favor certain genetic traits. This ongoing process explains why morality is both universal in its existence and diverse in its application.

Examples of this coevolution include:

• The development of disgust responses and cultural food taboos.
• The biological evolution of cooperative traits alongside cultural norms of altruism.
• The emergence of complex social emotions such as guilt and shame.

Recognizing these deep evolutionary roots suggests that moral progress is most effective when social interventions align with, rather than ignore, evolved human nature.

10. The hive switch allows humans to transcend self-interest

We have the ability (under special circumstances) to transcend self-interest and lose ourselves (temporarily and ecstatically) in something larger than ourselves.

The "hive switch" is a specific psychological mechanism that enables humans to transition from a self-interested state to a group-oriented state. When this switch is activated, individuals experience a sense of unity with others and are willing to act altruistically for the benefit of the collective.

Common triggers for this state include:

• Engaging in synchronized movements, such as marching or dancing.
• Experiencing collective awe or high-level emotional elevation.
• Participating in intense communal rituals or facing an external threat.

In organizational and social contexts, the hive switch is essential for creating strong bonds and facilitating large-scale cooperation. Understanding how to activate this mechanism can improve team-building and enhance community cohesion.

11. Durkheimian utilitarianism offers a new perspective on morality

If you don't see that Reagan is pursuing positive values of Loyalty, Authority, and Sanctity, you almost have to conclude that Republicans see no positive value in Care and Fairness.

Durkheimian utilitarianism merges the goal of maximizing well-being with the recognition that humans require stable social structures to thrive. This approach argues that ethical systems cannot be purely individualistic; they must also account for the social cohesion that sustains the community. Under this view, foundations like loyalty, authority, and sanctity are seen as having practical social utility.

This perspective suggests that:

• Public policy should evaluate its impact on social stability, not just individual rights.
• Traditional moral rules may provide hidden social benefits that are not immediately obvious.
• Balancing group-level concerns with individual welfare is a necessary component of ethics.

This framework helps bridge the gap between different ideological viewpoints by acknowledging the functional importance of "binding" moral values.

12. Understanding moral psychology can improve political discourse

Politics ain't beanbag.

Applying the insights of moral psychology to the political sphere can help mitigate polarization and foster more productive communication. Because political beliefs are often rooted in deep-seated intuitions rather than logical deduction, constructive disagreement requires a different approach than standard debate.

Strategies for improving political discourse include:

• Attempting to understand the moral framework of others before offering criticism.
• Framing arguments so they resonate with the specific moral foundations of the target audience.
• Identifying shared moral concerns to establish a foundation for compromise.

By focusing on the psychological roots of morality, it is possible to create a political culture that is more empathetic and better equipped to handle complex social challenges through mutual understanding.

Last updated: January 22, 2025