Social intuitionism: Difference between revisions - Wikipedia

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In [[moral psychology]], '''social intuitionism''' is a model that proposes that moral positions are often non-verbal and behavioral.<ref name="Haidt2001">{{cite journal |last1=Haidt |first1=Jonathan |title=The emotional dog and its rational tail: A social intuitionist approach to moral judgment. |journal=Psychological Review |date=2001 |volume=108 |issue=4 |pages=814–834 |doi=10.1037/0033-295X.108.4.814|pmid=11699120 }}</ref> Often such social intuitionism is based on "moral dumbfounding" where people have strong moral reactions but fail to establish any kind of rational principle to explain their reaction.<ref name="Haidt2000">{{~~cite journal~~citation |last1=Haidt |first1=Jonathan |last2=Björklund |first2=Fredrik |last3=Murphy |first3=Scott |title=Moral Dumbfounding: When Intuition Finds No Reason |date=August 10, 2000 |url=http://theskepticalzone.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/haidt.bjorklund.working-paper.when-intuition-finds-no-reason.pub603.pdf~~}}</ref>~~ ~~The four principal forms of social intuitionism are described as (1) primarily [[Intuition~~|intuitive]] ("intuitions come first"), (2) rationalized, justified, or otherwise explained after the fact, (3) taken mainly to influence other people, and are (4) often influenced and sometimes changed by discussing such positions with others.<ref>{{Cite book|title type=Unpublished The Righteous Mind: Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion|last = Haidt|first = Jonathan|publisher = Pantheon|year = 2012|isbn = 978-0307377906|pages = [https://archive.org/details/righteousmindwhy0000haid/page/913 913 Kindle ed]|url = https://archive.org/details/righteousmindwhy0000haid/page/913manuscript}}</ref>

==Overview==

This model diverges from earlier [[rationalist]] theories of morality, such as of [[Lawrence Kohlberg]]'s [[Lawrence Kohlberg's stages of moral development|stage theory of moral reasoning]].<ref>{{Cite journal|title = The Current Formulation of Kohlberg's Theory and a Response to Critics|journal = Human Development|pages = 94–100|volume = 28|issue = 2|doi = 10.1159/000272945|first = Charles|last = Levine|first2 = Lawrence|last2 = Kohlberg|first3 = Alexandra|last3 = Hewer|year = 1985}}</ref> Inspired in part by [[Antonio Damasio|Antonio Damasio's]] [[somatic marker hypothesis]], [[Jonathan Haidt|Jonathan Haidt's]] (2001) Social Intuitionist Model<ref name="Haidt2001" /> de-emphasized the role of reasoning in reaching moral conclusions. Haidt asserts that moral judgment is primarily given rise to by [[Intuition (knowledge)|intuition]], with reasoning playing a smaller role in most of our moral decision-making. Conscious thought-processes serve as a kind of [[post hoc theorizing|post hoc]] justification of our decisions.▼

Social intuitionism proposes four main claims about moral positions, namely that they are primarily

#[[Intuition|intuitive]] ("intuitions come first")

#rationalized, justified, or otherwise explained after the fact

#taken mainly to influence other people

#often influenced and sometimes changed by discussing such positions with others.<ref>{{Cite book|title = The Righteous Mind: Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion|last = Haidt|first = Jonathan|publisher = Pantheon|year = 2012|isbn = 978-0307377906|pages = [https://archive.org/details/righteousmindwhy0000haid/page/913 913 Kindle ed]|url = https://archive.org/details/righteousmindwhy0000haid/page/913}}</ref>

[[File:SocialIntuitionistCC.jpg|thumbnail|400px|right|The social intuitionist model]]▼

His main evidence comes from studies of "moral dumbfounding"<ref>{{Cite journal|last=McHugh|first=Cillian|last2=McGann|first2=Marek|last3=Igou|first3=Eric R.|last4=Kinsella|first4=Elaine L.|date=2017-10-04|title=Searching for Moral Dumbfounding: Identifying Measurable Indicators of Moral Dumbfounding|journal=Collabra: Psychology|language=en|volume=3|issue=1|pages=|doi=10.1525/collabra.79|issn=2474-7394|doi-access=free}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last=McHugh|first=Cillian|last2=McGann|first2=Marek|last3=Igou|first3=Eric R.|last4=Kinsella|first4=Elaine L.|date=2020-01-05|title=Reasons or rationalizations: The role of principles in the moral dumbfounding paradigm|journal=Journal of Behavioral Decision Making|language=en|volume=x|issue=x|pages=|doi=10.1002/bdm.2167|issn=1099-0771}}</ref> where people have strong moral reactions but fail to establish any kind of rational principle to explain their reaction.<ref>Haidt, Jonathan. The righteous mind. Pantheon: 2012. Loc 539, Kindle ed. In footnote 29, Haidt credits the neology of the term ''moral dumbfounding'' to social/experimental psychologist [[Daniel Wegner]]. </ref> An example situation in which moral intuitions are activated is as follows: Imagine that a brother and sister sleep together once. No one else knows, no harm befalls either one, and both feel it brought them closer as siblings. Most people imagining this [[incest]] scenario have very strong negative reaction, yet cannot explain why.<ref>Haidt, Jonathan. The righteous mind. Pantheon: 2012. Loc 763 Kindle ed.</ref> Referring to earlier studies by [[Howard Margolis]]<ref>{{Cite journal|title = Patterns, Thinking, and Cognition: A Theory of Judgment by Howard Margolis. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1987, 332 pp. (ISBN 0-226-50527-8)|journal = The Educational Forum|date = 1989-06-30|issn = 0013-1725|pages = 199–202|volume = 53|issue = 2|doi = 10.1080/00131728909335595|first = Burton L.|last = Grover}}</ref> and others, Haidt suggests that we have [[Unconscious cognition|unconscious]] intuitive [[heuristics]] which generate our reactions to morally charged-situations, and underlie our moral behavior. He suggests that when people explain their moral positions, they often miss, if not hide, the core premises and processes that actually led to those conclusions.<ref>Haidt, Jonathan. The righteous mind. Pantheon: 2012. Loc 1160 Kindle ed.</ref>▼

▲This model diverges from earlier [[rationalist]] theories of morality, such as of [[Lawrence Kohlberg]]'s [[Lawrence Kohlberg's stages of moral development|stage theory of moral reasoning]].<ref>{{Cite journal|title = The Current Formulation of Kohlberg's Theory and a Response to Critics|journal = Human Development|pages = 94–100|volume = 28|issue = 2|doi = 10.1159/000272945|~~first~~first1 = Charles|~~last~~last1 = Levine|first2 = Lawrence|last2 = Kohlberg|first3 = Alexandra|last3 = Hewer|year = 1985}}</ref> Inspired in part by work on [[motivated reasoning]], [[automaticity]], and [[Antonio Damasio|Antonio Damasio's]] [[somatic marker hypothesis]], [[Jonathan Haidt|Jonathan Haidt's]] (2001) ~~Social~~social ~~Intuitionist~~intuitionist ~~Model~~model<ref name="Haidt2001" /> de-emphasized the role of reasoning in reaching moral conclusions. Haidt asserts that moral judgment is primarily given rise to by [[Intuition (knowledge)|intuition]], with reasoning playing a smaller role in most of our moral decision-making. Conscious thought-processes serve as a kind of [[post hoc theorizing|post hoc]] justification of our decisions.

▲[[File:SocialIntuitionistCC.jpg|thumbnail|400px|right]]

▲His main evidence comes from studies of "moral dumbfounding"<ref>{{Cite journal|~~last~~last1=McHugh|~~first~~first1=Cillian|last2=McGann|first2=Marek|last3=Igou|first3=Eric R.|last4=Kinsella|first4=Elaine L.|date=2017-10-04|title=Searching for Moral Dumbfounding: Identifying Measurable Indicators of Moral Dumbfounding|journal=Collabra: Psychology|language=en|volume=3|issue=1~~|pages=~~|doi=10.1525/collabra.79|issn=2474-7394|doi-access=free|hdl=10344/6306|hdl-access=free}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|~~last~~last1=McHugh|~~first~~first1=Cillian|last2=McGann|first2=Marek|last3=Igou|first3=Eric R.|last4=Kinsella|first4=Elaine L.|date=2020-01-05|title=Reasons or rationalizations: The role of principles in the moral dumbfounding paradigm|journal=Journal of Behavioral Decision Making|language=en|volume=x|issue=x|pages=376–392 |doi=10.1002/bdm.2167|s2cid=214515549 |issn=1099-0771|url=https://psyarxiv.com/pcsfj/ |hdl=10344/10452|hdl-access=free}}</ref> where people have strong moral reactions but fail to establish any kind of rational principle to explain their reaction.<ref>Haidt, Jonathan. The righteous mind. Pantheon: 2012. Loc 539, Kindle ed. In footnote 29, Haidt credits the neology of the term ''moral dumbfounding'' to social/experimental psychologist [[Daniel Wegner]]. </ref> An example situation in which moral intuitions are activated is as follows: Imagine that a brother and sister sleep together once. No one else knows, no harm befalls either one, and both feel it brought them closer as siblings. Most people imagining this [[incest]] scenario have very strong negative reaction, yet cannot explain why.<ref>Haidt, Jonathan. The righteous mind. Pantheon: 2012. Loc 763 Kindle ed.</ref> Referring to earlier studies by [[Howard Margolis]]<ref>{{Cite journal|title = Patterns, Thinking, and Cognition: A Theory of Judgment by Howard Margolis. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1987, 332 pp. (ISBN 0-226-50527-8)|journal = The Educational Forum|date = 1989-06-30|issn = 0013-1725|pages = 199–202|volume = 53|issue = 2|doi = 10.1080/00131728909335595|first = Burton L.|last = Grover}}</ref> and others, Haidt suggests that we have [[Unconscious cognition|unconscious]] intuitive [[heuristics]] which generate our reactions to morally charged-situations, and underlie our moral behavior. He suggests that when people explain their moral positions, they often miss, if not hide, the core premises and processes that actually led to those conclusions.<ref>Haidt, Jonathan. The righteous mind. Pantheon: 2012. Loc 1160 Kindle ed.</ref>

Haidt's model also states that moral reasoning is more likely to be interpersonal than private, reflecting social motives (reputation, alliance-building) rather than abstract principles. He does grant that interpersonal discussion (and, on very rare occasions, private reflection) can activate new intuitions which will then be carried forward into future judgments.

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# There is considerable evidence that many evaluations, including moral judgments, take place automatically, at least in their initial stages (and these initial judgments anchor subsequent judgments).

# The moral reasoning process is highly biased by two sets of motives, which Haidt labels "relatedness" motives (relating to managing impressions and having smooth interactions with others) and "coherence" motives (preserving a coherent identity and worldview).

# The reasoning process has repeatedly been shown to create convincing post hoc justifications for behavior that are believed by people despite not actually correctly describing the reason underlying the choice. <ref>This was demonstrated in a classic paper by Nisbett and Wilson (1977).{{full citation needed|date=September 2022}}</ref>

# According to Haidt, moral action covaries more with moral emotion than with moral reasoning.

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==Objections to Haidt's model==

Among the main criticisms of Haidt's model are that it underemphasizes the role of reasoning.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=LaFollette |first1=Hugh |last2=Woodruff |first2=Michael L. |title=The limits of Haidt: How his explanation of political animosity fails |journal=Philosophical Psychology |date=13 September 2013 |volume=28 |issue=3 |pages=452–465 |doi=10.1080/09515089.2013.838752|s2cid=142745897 }}</ref> For example, Joseph Paxton and [[Joshua_Greene_(psychologist)|Joshua Greene]] (2010) review evidence suggesting that moral reasoning plays a significant role in moral judgment, including counteracting automatic tendencies toward bias.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Paxton |first1=Joseph M. |last2=Greene |first2=Joshua D. |title=Moral Reasoning: Hints and Allegations |journal=Topics in Cognitive Science |date=13 May 2010 |volume=2 |issue=3 |pages=511–527 |doi=10.1111/j.1756-8765.2010.01096.x|pmid=25163874 |doi-access=free }}</ref> Greene and colleagues have proposed an alternative to the social intuitionist model -– the [[Dual process theory (moral psychology)|Dual Process Model]]<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Greene |first1=J. D. |title=An fMRI Investigation of Emotional Engagement in Moral Judgment |journal=Science |date=14 September 2001 |volume=293 |issue=5537 |pages=2105–2108 |doi=10.1126/science.1062872|pmid=11557895 |bibcode=2001Sci...293.2105G |s2cid=1437941 }}</ref> -– which suggests that [[deontological]] moral judgments, which involve rights and duties, are driven primarily by intuition, while [[utilitarian]] judgments aimed at promoting the greater good are underlain by controlled cognitive reasoning processes. Greene's 2008 article "The Secret Joke of Kant's Soul"<ref>https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2007-14534-005 {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2024}}</ref> argues that Kantian/deontological ethics tends to be driven by emotional respondes and is best understood as rationalization rather than rationalism—an attempt to justify intuitive moral judgments post-hoc, although the author states that his argument is speculative and will not be conclusive. Several philosophers have written critical responses.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Lott |first1=Micah |title=Moral Implications from Cognitive (Neuro)Science? No Clear Route |journal=Ethics |date=October 2016 |volume=127 |issue=1 |pages=241–256 |doi=10.1086/687337 |s2cid=151940241 |url=https://philarchive.org/rec/LOTMIF }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Königs |first1=Peter |title=Two types of debunking arguments |journal=Philosophical Psychology |date=April 3, 2018 |volume=31 |issue=3 |pages=383–402 |doi=10.1080/09515089.2018.1426100 |s2cid=148678250 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Meyers |first1=C. D. |title=Brains, trolleys, and intuitions: Defending deontology from the Greene/Singer argument |journal=Philosophical Psychology |date=May 19, 2015 |volume=28 |issue=4 |pages=466–486 |doi=10.1080/09515089.2013.849381 |s2cid=146547149 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | url=https://philpapers.org/rec/KAHOTW | doi=10.1111/mila.12001 | title=On the Wrong Track: Process and Content in Moral Psychology | year=2012 | last1=Kahane | first1=Guy | journal=Mind & Language | volume=27 | issue=5 | pages=519–545 | pmid=23335831 | pmc=3546390 | s2cid=184105 }}</ref> [[Paul Bloom (psychologist)|Paul Bloom]] similarly criticizes Haidt's model on the grounds that intuition alone cannot account for historical changes in moral values. Moral change, he believes, is a phenomenon that is largely a product of rational deliberation.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Bloom |first1=Paul |title=How do morals change? |journal=Nature |date=March 2010 |volume=464 |issue=7288 |pages=490 |doi=10.1038/464490a|pmid=20336117 |bibcode=2010Natur.464..490B |doi-access=free }}</ref>

Augusto Blasi emphasizes the importance of moral responsibility and reflection as one analyzes an intuition.<ref>{{cite book |title=Personality, Identity, and Character: Explorations in Moral Psychology |last1=Narvaez |first1=Darcia |last2=Lapsley |first2=Daniel K. |publisher=Cambridge University Press |year=2009 |isbn=978-0-521-89507-1 |page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=a2p_Tg8c0N8C&pg=PA423 423]~~|ref=harv~~}}</ref> His main argument is that some, if not most, intuitions tend to be self-centered and self-seeking.{{Sfn|Narvaez|Lapsley|2009|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=a2p_Tg8c0N8C&pg=PA397 397]}} Blasi critiques Haidt in describing the average person and questioning if this model (having an intuition, acting on it, and then justifying it) always happens. He came to the conclusion that not everyone follows this model. In more detail, Blasi proposes Haidt's five default positions on intuition.{{Clarify|reason=What is "propose" supposed to mean here?|date=February 2018}}

* Normally moral judgments are caused by intuitions, whether the intuitions are themselves caused by heuristics, or the heuristics are intuitions; whether they are intrinsically based on emotions, or depend on grammar type of rules and externally related to emotions.

* Intuitions occur rapidly and appear as unquestionably evident; either the intuitions themselves or their sources are unconscious.

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Because such are the empirical facts, the "rationalistic" theories and methods of Piaget and Kohlberg are rejected. Blasi argues that Haidt does not provide adequate evidence to support his position.{{Sfn|Narvaez|Lapsley|2009|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=a2p_Tg8c0N8C&pg=PA412 412]}}

Haidt's model has seen extensive usage in sociology,<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Hitlin |first1=Steven |last2=Vaisey |first2=Stephen |date=2013-07-30 |title=The New Sociology of Morality |url=https://www.annualreviews.org/doi/10.1146/annurev-soc-071312-145628 |journal=Annual Review of Sociology |language=en |volume=39 |issue=1 |pages=51–68 |doi=10.1146/annurev-soc-071312-145628 |issn=0360-0572}}</ref> however here it has faced criticism for neglecting the role of social perception in moral judgment.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Luft |first=Aliza |date=2020 |title=Theorizing Moral Cognition: Culture in Action, Situations, and Relationships |url=http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/2378023120916125 |journal=Socius: Sociological Research for a Dynamic World |language=en |volume=6 |pages=237802312091612 |doi=10.1177/2378023120916125 |issn=2378-0231}}</ref> Aliza Luft argues that our moral judgments are not just informed by the action or behavior itself, but also how we socially categorize the individuals involved in the action. She points out that Haidt's early experiments relied on actors who were implicitly or explicitly characterized by race, gender, or other social categories. If these actors were imagined differently—for example, by changing the names of the incestuous couple in his experiment from "Mark" and "Julie" to "Jamal" and "Lakeisha"—different judgments might have emerged. This does not discount Haidt's model but encourages a focus on how judgments of action may intersect with judgments of people.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Abend |first=Gabriel |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=344pAgAAQBAJ |title=The Moral Background: An Inquiry into the History of Business Ethics |date=2014-03-23 |publisher=Princeton University Press |isbn=978-1-4008-5034-1 |language=en}}</ref>

Other researchers have criticized the evidence cited in support of social intuitionism relating to moral dumbfounding,<ref name="Haidt2000" /> arguing these findings rely on a misinterpretation of participants' responses.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Guglielmo |first1=Steve |title=Unfounded dumbfounding: How harm and purity undermine evidence for moral dumbfounding |journal=Cognition |date=January 2018 |volume=170 |pages=334–337 |doi=10.1016/j.cognition.2017.08.002|pmid=28803616 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last1=Royzman|first1=Edward B|last2=Kim|first2=Kwanwoo|last3=Leeman|first3=Robert F|year=2015|title=The curious tale of Julie and Mark: Unraveling the moral dumbfounding effect|url=https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2015-54495-002|journal=Judgment and Decision Making|language=en|volume=10|issue=4|page=296–313|via=}}</ref>▼

▲Other researchers have criticized the evidence cited in support of social intuitionism relating to moral dumbfounding,<ref name="Haidt2000" /> arguing these findings rely on a misinterpretation of participants' responses.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Guglielmo |first1=Steve |title=Unfounded dumbfounding: How harm and purity undermine evidence for moral dumbfounding |journal=Cognition |date=January 2018 |volume=170 |pages=334–337 |doi=10.1016/j.cognition.2017.08.002|pmid=28803616 |s2cid=46809661 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last1=Royzman|first1=Edward B|last2=Kim|first2=Kwanwoo|last3=Leeman|first3=Robert F|year=2015|title=The curious tale of Julie and Mark: Unraveling the moral dumbfounding effect~~|url=https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2015-54495-002~~|journal=Judgment and Decision Making|language=en|volume=10|issue=4|~~page~~pages=296–313|~~via~~doi=10.1017/S193029750000512X |s2cid=55658416 |doi-access=free}}</ref>

==See also==

* [[~~contagion~~Contagion heuristic]]▼

* [[Dual process theory (moral psychology)]]

* [[Ethical intuitionism]] (philosophy)▼

* [[Moral emotions]]

* [[Moral foundations theory]]

* [[Moral sense theory]] (philosophy)

▲* [[Ethical intuitionism]] (philosophy)

▲* [[contagion heuristic]]

==References==

~~<references />~~

==External links==

* [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11699120 Haidt, J. (2001). "The emotional dog and its rational tail: A social intuitionist approach to moral judgment." ''Psychological Review. 108'', ~~814-834~~814–834.]

* [http://www.wjh.harvard.edu/~jgreene/GreeneWJH/Paxton_Greene-Moral_Reasoning-topiCS-10.pdf Paxton, J., & Greene, J. (2010). "Moral reasoning: Hints and allegations." ''Topics in Cognitive Science, 2'', ~~511-527~~511–527.]

[[Category:Moral psychology]]