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When consent isn’t enough: explaining third-party disapproval of consensual decisions within the contractualist framework

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 June 2026

Cindy Zhang  and
Kristin Laurin Open the ORCID record for Kristin Laurin [Opens in a new window]
Cindy Zhang
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada czhang61@student.ubc.ca klaurin@psych.ubc.ca
Kristin Laurin*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada czhang61@student.ubc.ca klaurin@psych.ubc.ca
*
*Corresponding author.
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Abstract

Why might people make negative moral judgments about others’ consensual exchanges? Within triple theory, these should count as mutually beneficial agreements and therefore enjoy uncontroversial moral approval. We propose two explanations: observers of an exchange may (1) do their own cost-benefit analysis or (2) prioritize moral norms. Additional theorizing is required for either of these to align with resource rationality.

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Type
Open Peer Commentary
Information
Behavioral and Brain Sciences , Volume 49 , 2026 , e160
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Copyright
© The Author(s), 2026. Published by Cambridge University Press

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