Sean Carroll's Mindscape: Science, Society, Philosophy, Culture, Arts, and Ideas

227 | Molly Crockett on the Psychology of Morality

Feb 20, 2023

Molly Crockett, an Associate Professor of Psychology at Princeton, delves into the fascinating psychology of morality. She discusses how our moral inclinations can be automatic or require deep reasoning, influenced by social context and technology. Crockett explores the impact of social media on ethical behavior, particularly in heated debates like the gas stove controversy. Additionally, she critiques the idea that humans are inherently selfish, advocating for the role of empathy and cultural influences in shaping our moral landscape.

01:11:47

Episode guests

Molly Crockett

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Quick takeaways

Morality plays a crucial role in social cohesion and the maintenance of social norms, contributing to our sense of right and wrong.

Research on mass gatherings reveals that spending time at these events can lead to moral expansion, as individuals extend their moral circle to include a broader range of people.

The rise of social media and its algorithmic promotion of extreme content raises concerns about the manipulation of moral narratives and the erosion of factual-based discourse.

Deep dives

The Role of Morality in Social Cohesion

Morality plays a crucial role in social cohesion, as it helps maintain social norms and promotes cooperative behavior. Humans have evolved a capacity to learn and transmit moral values from one generation to another, which contributes to our sense of right and wrong. While there is variation in moral beliefs across cultures, the importance of social relationships and the desire to fit into the social world influence our moral cognition.

Healthy Body and Mind Start with Right Nutrition

00:50

The Impact of Beliefs on our Behavior and Morality

01:19

The Cultural Side of Norms and Technology's Influence on Morality

01:04

The Effects of Algorithmic Intervention on Social Learning

02:06

Intro

4min

Exploring Morality: Reasoning, Contexts, and Community

11min

The Gas Stove Controversy and Social Media Dynamics

2min

Navigating the Intersection of Morality, Psychology, and Philosophy

3min

Exploring Values in Moral Psychology and Scientific Inquiry

4min

Reassessing Human Morality

14min

The Complex Nature of Morality

25min

Education, Morality, and Psychedelics

10min

Most of us strive to be good, moral people. When we are doing that striving, what is happening in our brains? Some of our moral inclinations seem pretty automatic and subconscious. Other times we have to sit down and deploy our full cognitive faculties to reason through a tricky moral dilemma. I talk with psychologist Molly Crockett about where our moral intuitions come from, how they can sometimes serve as cover for bad behaviors, and how morality shapes our self-image.

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Molly J. Crockett received her Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology from the University of Cambridge. She is currently Associate Professor of Psychology and University Center for Human Values at Princeton University. She is a Fellow of the Association for Psychological Science and the Society for Experimental Social Psychology.

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