Moral Psychology

People all over the world consider morality a part of who they are. A large new study explores how age, gender, and cultural background shape whether individuals view their moral traits as a private compass or a public identity.

When someone is rude, how we judge them depends heavily on who started it. A new study finds that people view retaliatory rudeness as more justifiable and virtuous than unprovoked rudeness, though polite responses are still preferred overall.

Belief in karma can lead people to view social inequality as fair, but it also motivates charitable giving. New research reveals that focusing on karma increases generosity, but mostly toward individuals who suffer through no fault of their own.

A massive analysis of Swedish population records reveals that people with higher cognitive abilities are more likely to vote, donate to charity, and buy eco-friendly vehicles, suggesting general intelligence directly influences actions that benefit society.

A new analysis of popular music over the last six decades reveals that song lyrics have grown increasingly focused on negative moral concepts like harm and rebellion, while expressions of virtues like care and purity have steadily declined.

Are you curious, or do you crave stability? A new psychological study of over 80,000 people reveals that looking at highly specific personal values can accurately predict a person's age.

What do narcissists and psychopaths actually value in life? A new meta-analysis reveals that people with "Dark Triad" personality traits are driven heavily by a desire for personal power and stimulation, while showing a strong aversion to helping others.

People consistently assume that others are much more likely to lie and cheat than they actually are. Research in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology suggests that providing accurate information about honesty levels improves overall social trust.

Nudity in art has always sparked controversy. A recent psychology study found that people who prioritize social order and purity tend to view nude paintings as pornographic, while those who prioritize fairness and autonomy view them as beautiful and interesting.

A new psychology study reveals that people are highly supportive of censoring or devaluing art when the creator is accused of sexual assault, even if they still privately enjoy the artwork itself.

A recent study found a strong association between specific “Dark Triad” traits and moral leniency. College students scoring higher in psychopathy or Machiavellianism were more open to excusing dishonest, rule-breaking, and controversial behaviors.

Artificial intelligence models like ChatGPT struggle to accurately understand global values, a new study suggests. Researchers found that these systems overestimate the morality of Western nations while underestimating non-Western cultures, essentially adopting human-like cultural stereotypes.

Hostile political debate might have less to do with deep ideological divides and more to do with social status. A new study finds that young men frequently use moral outrage as a competitive tool to shame opponents.

Do manipulative people truly lack a moral compass? New research suggests otherwise. While antagonistic individuals judge immoral peers less harshly, they still find them physically unattractive, indicating their leniency is actually a psychological defense mechanism.