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Moral Licensing

EuanF

I've been doing a lot of thinking lately on my own personal morals and ethics. In doing this I've came across the concept of "moral Licensing". This is essentially a psychological phenomenon in where we use the knowledge of previous moral behaviour or actions to almost excuse and allow us to engage in morally questionable or straight up immoral acts without the full acknowledgement in lowering of our own moral standing. 

Unfortunately, in reflecting on a lot of my previous personal behaviours I can see so many times I have been caught in this. Using moral behaviour that I have presented in public to perhaps ignore or not truly acknowledge the impact of my immoral behaviour when on my own or in private. It's incredibly disappointing and honestly brings up a lot of feelings of shame. However, I do believe that genuine reflection and understanding of these things is the only way we can change going forward and be better people.  

Has anyone else had times in their life that, on reflection, might have involved the use of this moral licensing? And if so, do you feel you have taken important lessons from acknowledging it?

Parents

  • every action has a reason every cause has a consequence.

    if someone has done something to you to lower your moral treatment of them.... they outright deserve it, as its a consequence of what they did to you. you adjust behaviour to suit each individual, you cant treat all the same, treatment of others depends on how those others treat you and is fully justified entirely... up to a point where your not over doing it and know when enough has been enough or whether its ongoing and they have earnt more.

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  • every action has a reason every cause has a consequence.

    if someone has done something to you to lower your moral treatment of them.... they outright deserve it, as its a consequence of what they did to you. you adjust behaviour to suit each individual, you cant treat all the same, treatment of others depends on how those others treat you and is fully justified entirely... up to a point where your not over doing it and know when enough has been enough or whether its ongoing and they have earnt more.

Children
  • in reply to Caelus

    What do you mean by this? The same argument is exactly why Autistics are treated horrendously, spoken of as humans without a soul or moral compass. 

    My perspective of the other might not be correct. My assumptions could be biased. 

    I don't think it's useful to treat others as they treat you, like a passive entity on "Response Mode" only. That's kind of the point of growing. To help others up to a better standard. If we never afforded dignity to those who needed it, this world would be a terrible place. 

    I mean, who knows what another actually deserves.