Ethics and Morality

What Is Morality?

For a topic as subjective as morality, people sure have strong beliefs about what's right and wrong. Yet even though morals can vary from person to person and culture to culture, many are universal, as they result from basic human emotions. We may think of moralizing as an intellectual exercise, but more frequently it's an attempt to make sense of our gut instincts.

Privilege?

By Marty Nemko Ph.D. on July 22, 2017 in How To Do Life

A debate: Should society's Haves redistribute more of their assets?

If You Got It, Think Hard About Flaunting It

By Jesse Marczyk Ph.D. on July 21, 2017 in Pop Psych

To what extent does promiscuity drive attitudes towards homosexuality?

Psychoanalysis and Psychiatry: Autonomy vs. Heteronomy

By Mark L Ruffalo LCSW on July 21, 2017 in Mental Illness as Metaphor

The psychiatrist as state agent, the psychoanalyst as contractual helper.

Religion, Secularism, and Homophobia

By Phil Zuckerman Ph.D. on July 21, 2017 in The Secular Life

Millennials are the least homophobic Americans, and also the least religious.

CEOsiopaths, the Fanatic Formula, and Why We’re in This Mess

By Jeremy E Sherman Ph.D. on July 21, 2017 in Ambigamy

Are we playing or replacing the game? In politics, that's a hard distinction to keep straight. The Fanatic Formula and CEOsiopathy help explain why.

My Gay Uncle: When Diversity Was Deviance

By Gina Barreca Ph.D. on July 21, 2017 in Snow White Doesn't Live Here Anymore

It was only after my uncle died that I found a photograph of him and Fred dressed as Rhett and Scarlett; Fred was a coy Vivian Leigh and my uncle a smiling Clark Gable.

How to Stop Robots From Harming Themselves—and Us

By Psychology Today Editorial Staff on July 21, 2017 in Brainstorm

If the "suicidal robot" followed this new model, it wouldn't have drowned.

Wikimedia Commons, public domain, pre-1923

Money and a Room of One’s Own

By Jenni Ogden Ph.D. on July 20, 2017 in Trouble in Mind

The Bank of England has unveiled a ten pound note celebrating Jane Austen. Virginia Woolfe also has some insightful messages, still relevant today, about money and women writers.

Wikimedia Commons by John William Waterhouse.

Is It Narcissism or Sociopathy?

By Stephen A. Diamond Ph.D. on July 19, 2017 in Evil Deeds

What is the nexus between narcissistic and antisocial personality?

How and Why You Compromise Your Integrity

By Leon F Seltzer Ph.D. on July 19, 2017 in Evolution of the Self

Your most important possession is your integrity. It’s your trustworthiness, word of honor. Yet at some point you’ve certainly violated this most “sacred” part of yourself. Why?

Real Reasons for Sex Before Marriage

By Nigel Barber Ph.D. on July 19, 2017 in The Human Beast

More people today are sexually active before marriage than ever before. The true reasons are practical and have little to do with changing belief systems.

Perfect Suicide?

By Marty Nemko Ph.D. on July 19, 2017 in How To Do Life

A short-short story about hubris, a future president, and nuclear war.

How to Talk to a Vet

By Robert Dingman Ed.D. on July 18, 2017 in Mind Matters

So many veterans feel distance and alienation from their civilian compatriots because they conclude that we really don’t want to know or can’t understand how they feel.

A Quick Multiple-Choice Test Concerning Moral Courage

By Mitchell M. Handelsman Ph.D. on July 18, 2017 in The Ethical Professor

Yesterday I was sifting through the news (the real stuff, not fake), and found one story that struck me as a clear act of moral courage. I thought I’d see if you agree.

Avoiding Political Precommitment

By Gleb Tsipursky Ph.D. on July 18, 2017 in Intentional Insights

Warning! Your worldview may be undermining reason-based decision-making. This article can help you steer clear of that problem.

Zoo Ethics and the Challenges of Compassionate Conservation

By Marc Bekoff Ph.D. on July 18, 2017 in Animal Emotions

Jenny Gray's new book called "Zoo Ethics: The Challenges of Compassionate Conservation" is an important contribution to wide-ranging debates about keeping animals in captivity.

What's With the Emerging Gender Gap in Social Psychology?

By Lee Jussim Ph.D. on July 18, 2017 in Rabble Rouser

Are you concerned about the gender gap in scientific fields, because such gaps reflect discrimination? Then you might want to consider this.

Humans Defeat Nature—As Prescribed. Are We Happy Now?

By Darcia Narvaez Ph.D. on July 16, 2017 in Moral Landscapes

Sigmund Freud encouraged aggression against Nature, along with other Western scholars. We’ve now reached “biological annihilation” of species all over the earth. Are you happy?

Ethics and Honesty in an Age of Alternative Facts

By Jonathan D. Raskin, Ph.D. on July 15, 2017 in Making Meaning

Feeling ethically unmoored in the era of "post-truth" and "alternative facts?" Perhaps constructivist psychology can help!

Wisdom Made as Simple as Possible, No Simpler

By Jeremy E Sherman Ph.D. on July 14, 2017 in Ambigamy

The Golden Rule and other "Always do X" rules are one-sided half-truths posing as whole truths. Learn to see through them for greater wisdom and peace of mind.

When to End a Friendship and How to Do It

By Peg O'Connor Ph.D. on July 14, 2017 in Philosophy Stirred, Not Shaken

Breaking up with a friend is one of the most difficult things to do.

Polyphobia

By Elisabeth A. Sheff Ph.D., CASA, CSE on July 14, 2017 in The Polyamorists Next Door

This blog explores discrimination and prejudice against polyamorous people in loss of social ties, housing, child custody, job loss, and selective enforcement of rules or laws.

The Most Important Relationship Strength You Must Have

By Zack Carter Ph.D. on July 13, 2017 in Clear Communication

Though our natural inclination is not to do this, new research shows there's one behavior that can keep all of your human relationships happy.

Can Job Autonomy Be a Double-Edged Sword?

By Joel Brockner Ph.D. on July 12, 2017 in The Process Matters

In addition to its many benefits, job autonomy can lead to unethical behavior.

Sacred Values and You

By Joachim I Krueger Ph.D. on July 11, 2017 in One Among Many

Motherhood and death have psychological power over you because they’re sacred. You can’t question them.

The Optimism Challenge

By David Dillard-Wright Ph.D. on July 11, 2017 in Boundless

Can you become an optimist through deliberate practice? Try it and see.

Holding the Right People Accountable for Vaccination Deaths

By Gretchen L. Watson, Ph.D. on July 10, 2017 in Extraordinary People

We must face uncomfortable truths if we want to reduce sources of medical error.

By 4028mdk09 (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Rallying the Troops Versus Quieting the Indignation

By Gregory R. Maio Ph.D. on July 10, 2017 in Attitude Check

Is open-mindedness enough to make us more tolerant of other groups?

Playing Politics with Mental Illness

By Marjorie L. Baldwin Ph.D. on July 10, 2017 in Beyond Schizophrenia

Unsubstantiated allegations of mental illness directed toward public figures reinforce the pervasive stigma associated with mental disorders. Who is really being harmed?

wikimedia commons By Praveenpaavni (Own work)

Baby Care: 3 Rs for Raising A Happy Child

By Darcia Narvaez Ph.D. on July 09, 2017 in Moral Landscapes

Depression is epidemic and even touches babies. How do early life's 3 Rs: recognition, resonance, and respect, mitigate against depression--for all of us?