The Slippery Slope of Our Moral Spectrum
Researchers have learned much about the neurology behind where we fall on the spectrum between moral deterioration and escalation
Hiya!
You’ve likely identified some themes among my letters to you, one of which is that while we humans prefer binary thinking, the Truth is that binaries are nothing more than two ends of a spectrum. And today, we’ll be talking about the spectrum between moral deterioration and elevation.
On one end are the questions: what causes us to lie, and to continue lying until we’re in a moral death spiral where one bad decision seems to lead to a worse one? Meanwhile, on the other end of the spectrum, the question is: why do we sometimes hold onto our virtues and moral integrity like a lifeline and continue to fight for them, no matter the cost?
Fortunately for us, researchers have made significant progress in answering these questions. But while we may prefer simple answers, it turns out that our journey along this moral spectrum is anything but straightforward.
Moral Death Spirals
A moral death spiral is a dramatic term for when what often starts as one small, dishonest act becomes two dishonest acts, and then three, and so on until they escalate into what can feel like an unstoppable “spiral” of bad choices. Sometimes, this spiral continues until it’s forcefully stopped, whether by their own miscalculation, the law, or something else.
Understandably, psychologists and other experts are curious about what sets off these moral death spirals, and equally importantly, what sustains them.
Because here’s the thing: it’s not as if most people live their lives as a relatively moral person and then just one day wake up and decide to start lying about everything or commit a crime.
In fact, research shows that when we first become aware of an ethical violation — whether our own or one committed by someone else — we’re hardwired to feel disgusted by it, literally.
Moral Decision-Making in the Brain
In a 2020 study by Swiss researchers, participants were instructed to think about various ethical dilemmas before being exposed to stinky smells. The results showed that the participants’ brain activity in areas like the anterior insula, which helps process physical disgust, was more active than that of the control group, who weren’t exposed to the foul smells.
In other words, as neuroscientist Gil Sharvit, the study’s lead author, told Elizabeth Svoboda of Scientific American,
“Disgust and moral disgust are uniquely connected.”
But if physical disgust and moral disgust are linked, then why do moral death spirals happen? Shouldn’t our revulsion of poor moral behavior be enough to stop us from repeating or tolerating it?
Ideally, yes. But, as so often happens, things aren’t quite that simple.
Our initial disgust toward moral ambiguity is just one of many responses our brain produces, as there is no single brain network or region that’s solely responsible for navigating the complex process of moral decision making.
That’s because studies consistently reveal a wide range of brain regions involved when people make moral decisions, indicating the broad scope of emotional, instinctual, rational, and social factors that influence such decisions.
For instance, in addition to our instinct to recoil, our brain’s amygdala, known for its role in processing our fear, activates when we consider the risks or consequences of doing something we know is morally wrong. Similarly, contemplating the potential blowback of taking an ethical stand when witnessing a moral wrong can also trigger the amygdala.
However, as our reflection of the situation continues, the moral decision morphs into an internal debate between our logic and our emotions — and that requires more than our amygdala.
Research shows that many brain regions help us regulate our instinctive (emotional) reactions, including those spurred by fear and disgust.
The prefrontal cortex, for instance, is a major one, as it holds many responsibilities, including managing our attention, emotions, self-control, and navigating general decision-making. Along with the anterior cingulate cortex, nucleus accumbens, and anterior insula, all of which help us assess the potential consequences or rewards a morally ambiguous decision may incur, while managing any related emotions we may experience.
This type of cooperation between brain regions, where we tamp down the storm of our emotions so we can weigh our options with logic and reason, can make our path forward feel clearer.
That said, while the basic neural networks underlying moral decision-making are similar for all of us, we are still individuals. As such, our personal experiences, history, values, beliefs, and other factors profoundly influence our subjective mental processing and subsequent moral choices.
Likewise, the context of each moral decision often varies. It could involve anything from lying on an exam to participating in legal fraud or worse. We may not even be the ones responsible for the poor action; maybe we’re just witnessing it and have to decide whether to remain silent or speak up.
Other Variables
Adding to the equation are the following additional variables that seem to have a particularly strong influence on how we navigate moral decisions.