The DOI matches its Crossref record; 21 of the 21 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
A solution to the mysteries of morality.
Open accessAbstract
We propose that moral condemnation functions to guide bystanders to choose the same side as other bystanders in disputes. Humans interact in dense social networks, and this poses a problem for bystanders when conflicts arise: which side, if any, to support. Choosing sides is a difficult strategic problem because the outcome of a conflict critically depends on which side other bystanders support. One strategy is siding with the higher status disputant, which can allow bystanders to coordinate with one another to take the same side, reducing fighting costs. However, this strategy carries the cost of empowering high-status individuals to exploit others. A second possible strategy is choosing sides based on preexisting relationships. This strategy balances power but carries another cost: Bystanders choose different sides, and this discoordination causes escalated conflicts and high fighting costs. We propose that moral cognition is designed to manage both of these problems by implementing a dynamic coordination strategy in which bystanders coordinate side-taking based on a public signal derived from disputants' actions rather than their identities. By focusing on disputants' actions, bystanders can dynamically change which individuals they support across different disputes, simultaneously solving the problems of coordination and exploitation. We apply these ideas to explain a variety of otherwise mysterious moral phenomena.
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Cites
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Self-citationNo Compromise: Political Consequences of Moralized Attitudes
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“Punishment strategies via moral condemnation (DeScioli & Kurzban, 2013) and ostracism (Kurzban & Leary, 2001) emerged to deal with adaptive problems associated with within-group conflicts.”
Perceived Shared Condemnation Intensifies Punitive Moral Emotions
Konishi, N., Oe, T., Shimizu, H., Tanaka, K., & Ohtsubo, Y. (2017) · Scientific Reports · doi:10.1038/s41598-017-07916-z · Cited by 15
Signaling (in)tolerance: Social evaluation and metaethical relativism and objectivism
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Metadata
- Authors
- DeScioli, P., & Kurzban, R.
- Venue
- Psychological Bulletin
- Published
- 2013-03
- Volume
- 139
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 477-496
- ISSN
- 0033-2909 (ISSN-L)
- 1939-1455
- OpenAlex
- W2119224380
- Cited by
- 289
- References
- 21
- FWCI
- 9.52
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
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