The Light and Dark of Moral Consensus

• In Event: 1452 - Group Bonding and Binding: Cohesion, Morality, and Social Norms

Abstract

A line long of sociological theory and research suggests that moral consensus—a shared set of values and moral beliefs—plays a crucial role in binding group members together into communities by promoting cooperative, prosocial behavior, and feelings of group cohesion, solidarity, and identification. Other work, however, highlights the ‘dark side’ of moral consensus as a source of oppression and alienation, and a cause of reputational concern, fear of judgment, and anxiety. Despite the interest, there remains scant evidence directly comparing these possibilities. We provide such an analysis across three studies (total N = 932) using both correlational and experimental methods, and measuring a wide range of positive and negative outcomes.
On balance, results of these studies favor the optimistic account of moral consensus. Moral consensus promotes pro-group sentiments and behaviors, and fosters positive views of the group and its members, but it also increases reputational anxiety. Further, we find evidence that moral consensus’ benevolent effects are stronger in smaller, denser groups, while the effects on reputational concern and anxiety are stronger in diffuse groups. We conclude that moral consensus is best understood through its role in two mechanisms: group identity and reputation. Shared moral values provide a basis for people to feel meaningfully similar and believe each other trustworthy; and it fosters a reputation system in which community members judge each other’s’ behavior using shared standards, and in which those community members can signal their own trustworthiness and commitment through adherence to those standards.

Authors

• Nicholas Heiserman, University of South Carolina

• Aaron Heshel Silverman, Stanford University

• Robb Willer, Stanford University

• Brent Simpson, University of South Carolina