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The brighter the light, the deeper the shadow: Morality also fuels aggression, conflict, and violence

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 May 2018

Robert Böhm ,
Isabel Thielmann  and
Benjamin E. Hilbig
Robert Böhm
Affiliation:
School of Business and Economics, RWTH Aachen University, 52062 Aachen, Germany. robert.boehm@rwth-aachen.dehttp://www.robertboehm.info
Isabel Thielmann
Affiliation:
Cognitive Psychology Lab, University of Koblenz-Landau, 76829 Landau, Germany. thielmann@uni-landau.dehilbig@uni-landau.dehttp://www.cognition.uni-landau.de/people/isabel-thielmann-mschttp://www.cognition.uni-landau.de/hilbig
Benjamin E. Hilbig
Affiliation:
Cognitive Psychology Lab, University of Koblenz-Landau, 76829 Landau, Germany. thielmann@uni-landau.dehilbig@uni-landau.dehttp://www.cognition.uni-landau.de/people/isabel-thielmann-mschttp://www.cognition.uni-landau.de/hilbig Max Planck Institute for Research on Collective Goods, 53113 Bonn, Germany.
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Abstract

We argue that, in addition to the positive effects and functionality of morality for interactions among in-group members as outlined in the target article, morality may also fuel aggression and conflict in interactions between morality-based out-groups. We summarize empirical evidence showing that negative cognitions, emotions, and behaviors are particularly likely to appear between out-groups with opposing moral convictions.

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Information
Behavioral and Brain Sciences , Volume 41 , 2018 , e98
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2018 

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