The Righteous Mind PDF

Jonathan Haidt

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 The Righteous Mind
Understanding Morality to Bridge Our Deepest
Divides
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About the book
In *The Righteous Mind*, social psychologist Jonathan Haidt
delves into the roots of our societal divisions and the
challenges of political collaboration in an increasingly
complex world. He examines the nature of moral
intuition—those immediate judgments we make about others
and their actions—which often feeds a perception of
righteousness and fuels animosity toward differing viewpoints.
By exploring the moral foundations that vary across cultures
and political spectrums, Haidt synthesizes insights from
psychology, anthropology, and history to construct a
comprehensive understanding of morality. He challenges the
notion of humanity as purely selfish, proposing instead that
our innate "groupishness" shapes our identities, joys, and
conflicts. In a compelling conclusion, Haidt emphasizes the
importance of recognizing the valuable perspectives of
liberals, conservatives, and libertarians, arguing that mutual
understanding and cooperation are essential for national
progress.

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About the author
Jonathan Haidt is the Thomas Cooley Professor of Ethical
Leadership at New York University’s Stern School of
Business. He earned his PhD in social psychology from the
University of Pennsylvania in 1992 and spent sixteen years
teaching at the University of Virginia. Haidt's research centers
on moral and political psychology, articulated in his influential
work, *The Righteous Mind*. His most recent book, *The
Anxious Generation*, extends the insights from *The
Coddling of the American Mind*, co-authored with Greg
Lukianoff. Additionally, he shares his perspectives through his
After Babel Substack.

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Summary Content List
Chapter 1 : Where Does Morality Come From?

Chapter 2 : The Intuitive Dog and Its Rational Tail

Chapter 3 : Elephants Rule

Chapter 4 : Vote for Me (Here’s Why)

Chapter 5 : Beyond WEIRD Morality

Chapter 6 : Taste Buds of the Righteous Mind

Chapter 7 : The Moral Foundations of Politics

Chapter 8 : The Conservative Advantage

Chapter 9 : Why Are We So Groupish?

Chapter 10 : The Hive Switch

Chapter 11 : Religion Is a Team Sport

Chapter 12 : Can’t We All Disagree More Constructively?

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Chapter 1 Summary : Where Does
Morality Come From?

Chapter 1: Where Does Morality Come From?

Summary:

This chapter begins with a moral dilemma involving a

family's decision to eat their deceased pet dog, which raises
questions about the nature of moral judgment and disgust.
The author illustrates how people's initial reactions depend
heavily on cultural context, highlighting that morality often
transcends mere harm.
There are two predominant theories about the origin of

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morality: nativism, which suggests that moral understanding
is innate, and empiricism, which posits that morality comes
from learned experiences. The author discusses the rationalist
approach, primarily advocated by psychologists like Jean
Piaget and Lawrence Kohlberg, who emphasized the role of
reasoning and cognitive development in moral judgment.
However, the author argues that Kohlberg's research
predominantly reflects a secular, individualistic perspective
on morality that is not universally applicable. By referencing
cross-cultural studies, particularly those by Richard Shweder,
the chapter posits that moral understanding can differ
drastically between sociocentric cultures, which prioritize
group needs, and individualistic cultures that emphasize
personal rights.
Empirical research revealed that people frequently concoct
justifications for their moral intuitions, indicating that
emotions like disgust and disrespect play a vital role in moral
reasoning. Additionally, the findings suggest that children’s
moral understanding cannot be entirely self-constructed;
social and cultural factors significantly influence moral
learning.
In summary, the chapter concludes that morality is shaped by
a complex interplay of innate intuitions and cultural
teachings, suggesting that while we are inherently inclined to

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morality, cultural context heavily informs our specific moral
beliefs.

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Critical Thinking
Key Point:The interplay of innate intuitions and
cultural context shapes morality.
Critical Interpretation:Haidt emphasizes how moral
judgments can be largely influenced by cultural context,
challenging the notion that morality is solely innately
derived or learned through empirical experiences. While
his arguments regarding the varied cultural dimensions
of morality open a discussion on moral relativism, one
must consider that his viewpoints might not fully
account for the intricacies of individual morality shaped
by a blend of biological factors and experiential
learning. The research cited, particularly from Richard
Shweder and other anthropologists, offers valuable
insights; however, the debate remains ongoing in moral
psychology, suggesting alternatives such as those by
Jonathan Haidt himself in 'The Righteous Mind' or
contrasting views presented in works like 'The Moral
Landscape' by Sam Harris, which argue for a more
universal moral framework.

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Chapter 2 Summary : The Intuitive Dog
and Its Rational Tail

The Intuitive Dog and Its Rational Tail

In Chapter 2 of "The Righteous Mind," Jonathan Haidt

discusses the divide within the human mind between rational
thought and emotional intuition. This division has been
recognized since ancient times, with various philosophers
providing different perspectives on the balance of reason and
passion in moral judgment.

Conflict in the Human Mind

Haidt introduces the concept that the human mind is

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composed of conflicting parts, likening it to a struggle
between a rational tail and an intuitive dog. He references
ancient thinkers like Plato, who emphasized the supremacy
of reason, and compares this to Hume’s assertion that reason
serves the passions.

Evolutionary Insights on Morality

Further, Haidt explores Darwin’s theories, which attribute

moral emotions to evolutionary processes. He criticizes the
dismissal of nativism in ethical discussions following
societal backlash against social Darwinism, leading to a
denial of human nature by some sociologists and
psychologists.

The Role of Emotions in Decision Making

The exploration continues into the 1990s with research

indicating that emotional responses are crucial for rational
decision-making. Neuroscientist Antonio Damasio notes how
brain damage affecting emotional responses leads to poor
decision-making, supporting the idea that reason relies on
emotion for effective functioning.

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Cognitive Processes: Intuition vs. Reasoning

Haidt discusses two types of cognitive processes:

"seeing-that" (intuitive, automatic) and "reasoning-why"
(deliberate, conscious). This distinction helps explain how
moral judgments often occur quickly and emotionally,
followed by a search for rational justifications—a dynamic
outlined in Haidt's "social intuitionist model."

The Social Nature of Moral Judgment

This model posits that moral reasoning is influenced

significantly by social interactions and the need to persuade
others. Haidt suggests that effective communication requires
addressing people's underlying intuitions, as reasoning alone
often fails to sway deeply held beliefs.

Changing Minds through Empathy

To persuade others in moral arguments, Haidt emphasizes the

importance of empathy and understanding the perspectives of
others. Changes in moral beliefs often come not from logical
arguments alone but through social influences that engage
emotions and intuitions.

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Conclusion

In conclusion, Haidt affirms Hume's perspective that

intuition often precedes reasoning in moral decisions. He
urges readers to recognize the role of intuitions in shaping
moral judgments, framing his exploration of morality and
ethics as a journey towards understanding the complex
interplay between emotion and reason in human psychology.

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Example
Key Point:The interplay of intuition and reason in
moral judgments is crucial for understanding human
psychology.
Example:Imagine you’re in a heated debate about a
controversial issue. As you passionately defend your
stance, your emotions fuel your arguments, yet
afterward, you find yourself rationalizing your position
through thought. This moment highlights Haidt's central
idea: our intuitive responses often drive our beliefs,
while reasoning serves primarily to justify them,
shaping how we navigate moral decisions and
communicate with others.

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 Chapter 3 Summary : Elephants Rule
Section Summary

ELEPHANTS RULE Haidt shares a personal story highlighting self-deception and the role of
intuitions in moral psychology.

BRAINS EVALUATE INSTANTLY AND Our brains assess dangers and benefits instantaneously through affective
CONSTANTLY primacy, emphasizing emotion's influence on decisions.

SOCIAL AND POLITICAL Judgments in social and political contexts are significantly shaped by intuitive
JUDGMENTS ARE PARTICULARLY responses, as demonstrated by studies like the Implicit Association Test (IAT).
INTUITIVE

OUR BODIES GUIDE OUR Physical states, such as feelings of disgust or cleanliness, can impact moral
JUDGMENTS decision-making, connecting bodily sensations to moral intuitions.

PSYCHOPATHS REASON BUT DON’T Psychopathy exemplifies reasoning without emotion, showcasing how
FEEL psychopaths can manipulate others without empathy or guilt.

BABIES FEEL BUT DON’T REASON Infant research reveals early moral intuitions, as babies exhibit preferences for
helping behaviors, indicating an innate sense of morality.

AFFECTIVE REACTIONS ARE IN THE Studies show that emotional brain centers activate before moral judgments,
RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME challenging the belief that reasoning is the main driver of these judgments.
IN THE BRAIN

ELEPHANTS ARE SOMETIMES OPEN While intuition prevails, reasoning can still sway intuitions through social
TO REASON discourse, reflecting a dynamic between intuition and reason.

IN SUM Haidt concludes that moral psychology centers on the idea that intuitions come
first, with strategic reasoning following, underscoring the foundational role of
emotions in moral judgments.

ELEPHANTS RULE

In Chapter 3 of "The Righteous Mind," Jonathan Haidt shares

a personal anecdote about a moment of self-deception that
leads him to explore the underlying principles of moral
psychology. He reflects that intuitions often drive our
responses and justifications, rather than conscious reasoning.

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BRAINS EVALUATE INSTANTLY AND
CONSTANTLY

Haidt explains how our brains assess situations based on

potential threats or benefits almost instantaneously. This
process, termed affective primacy, suggests that emotions
profoundly influence our perceptions and decisions long
before rational thought comes into play.

SOCIAL AND POLITICAL JUDGMENTS ARE

PARTICULARLY INTUITIVE

Research illustrates that our social and political judgments

are heavily influenced by quick, intuitive flashes. Studies like
the Implicit Association Test (IAT) reveal the speed at which
pre-existing biases affect our reactions, aligning with
preferences for immediate evaluations based on instinctive
affect.

OUR BODIES GUIDE OUR JUDGMENTS

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can affect Text and
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or cleanliness can alter one's decision-making regarding

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Chapter 4 Summary : Vote for Me
(Here’s Why)

Vote for Me (Here’s Why)

In this chapter, Jonathan Haidt explores the theme of moral

reasoning and its relationship with reputation and behavior
through a philosophical lens, referencing Plato's *Republic*.
He contrasts the virtue of being genuinely good versus the
perception of being good, emphasizing that the fear of
negative reputation often keeps people aligned with ethical
behavior.

The Role of Reasoning in Morality

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Haidt criticizes the idea that rational thinking should govern
human behavior, suggesting instead that reasoning is often
utilized to justify pre-existing beliefs rather than to discover
truth. This aligns with Glaucon’s view, indicating that a
major driver of ethical behavior is the social accountability
inherent in human interactions.

We Are All Intuitive Politicians

Humans are adept at navigating social expectations and

holding each other accountable. This ability stems from our
innate tendencies to prioritize socially strategic goals, such as
managing personal reputations, rather than purely seeking the
truth. Research shows that people often employ reasoning to
rationalize their choices to themselves and others, indicating
that our reasoning functions primarily as a tool for persuasion
rather than discovering factual truths.

We Are Obsessed with Polls

Haidt discusses how individuals subconsciously seek

validation from others, akin to elected officials seeking
approval from their constituents. This behavior suggests that
self-esteem is influenced more by social acceptance than

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self-image. Even those who claim to be unaffected by public
opinion exhibit significant changes in self-esteem based on
external feedback.

Our In-House Press Secretary Automatically

Justifies Everything

Haidt utilizes the metaphor of a press secretary to illustrate

how individuals engage in post hoc reasoning to defend their
beliefs. Evidence suggests that when tasked with justifying
choices, people exhibit confirmation bias, often ignoring
contradictory information in favor of supporting their
pre-existing views.

We Lie, Cheat, and Justify So Well That We

Honestly Believe We Are Honest

Empirical studies reveal a tendency for individuals to cheat

when they perceive they can do so without accountability.
The complexity of human moral psychology is illuminated
through examples of how individuals can rationalize
dishonest actions while still believing in their moral integrity.

Reasoning (and Google) Can Take You Wherever

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You Want to Go

Haidt discusses how motivated reasoning allows people to

conclude what they want to believe. This phenomenon is
significant in the age of digital information, where one can
easily find supporting evidence for virtually any belief
through online resources, often neglecting rigorous standards
of evidence.

We Can Believe Almost Anything That Supports

Our Team

Haidt highlights that group allegiance often supersedes

personal self-interest in shaping political beliefs. Various
studies confirm that individuals’ political opinions serve as
markers of group identity rather than selfish calculations,
leading to polarized views and entrenched beliefs.

The Rationalist Delusion

The author argues that the exaltation of rationality is a

delusion, as expertise in moral reasoning does not necessarily
equate to virtuous behavior. He advocates for an intuitionist
perspective that recognizes the limitations of individual

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reasoning and emphasizes the importance of social contexts
in influencing moral behavior.

In Sum

Haidt summarizes the chapter by asserting that moral

psychology operates primarily through intuitive judgments,
with reasoning serving as a tool for justification rather than
truth-seeking. The implications of this analysis challenge
traditional views on moral reasoning and highlight the need
for understanding moral behavior within a social and
reputational framework.
This chapter sets the stage for a deeper exploration of moral
intuitions in the subsequent part of the book.

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Critical Thinking
Key Point:The emphasis on the role of reputation in
ethical behavior can be contentious.
Critical Interpretation:While Haidt asserts that social
accountability drives moral conduct, critics may argue
that this perspective undervalues intrinsic moral values
and true altruism. Ethical behavior may arise from
deeper philosophical or ethical convictions rather than
merely from fear of social repercussion. This critique is
supported by various ethical philosophies, including
Kantian ethics, which posit that morality is grounded in
duty and intention, rather than social perception.
Furthermore, altruism research suggests that individuals
can act selflessly despite potential negative public
perceptions, indicating that Haidt’s reputation-centric
view may not encompass the full spectrum of human
morality.

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Chapter 5 Summary : Beyond WEIRD
Morality

BEYOND WEIRD MORALITY

In this chapter, Jonathan Haidt discusses the peculiarities of

moral perspectives shaped by cultural contexts, primarily
contrasting Western values with those from non-Western
societies. He shares experiences from his doctoral research,
highlighting how differently individuals from various
backgrounds respond to moral dilemmas, particularly those
that provoke disgust or challenge socio-cultural norms.

WEIRD Culture and Moral Perspectives

Haidt identifies individuals from Western, educated,

industrialized, rich, and democratic (WEIRD) backgrounds
as statistical outliers in moral psychology. He notes that these
individuals often prioritize individual autonomy and harm
prevention, as represented by the "harm principle" proposed
by John Stuart Mill. The chapter illustrates that while
WEIRD individuals may tolerate behaviors that provoke their

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disgust, they rationalize these behaviors through an ethics of
autonomy, focusing narrowly on individual rights.

Three Ethics of Morality

Haidt introduces Richard Shweder's framework of three

moral ethics: autonomy, community, and divinity:
1.
Ethic of Autonomy
: Values individual rights and freedoms, prevalent in
individualistic societies.
2.
Ethic of Community
: Emphasizes responsibilities and roles within larger social
groups, focusing on duty, hierarchy, and respect.
3.
Ethic of Divinity
: Considers individuals as vessels for a divine essence,
promoting concepts of purity, sanctity, and moral superiority.
Haidt’s research reveals that while WEIRD individuals
predominantly communicate through the ethic of autonomy,
those from different backgrounds often express concerns
grounded in community and divinity, highlighting a richer
moral spectrum.

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Personal Transformation Through Cultural
Exposure

By immersing himself in a different cultural context during

his time in India, Haidt experiences a profound shift in
perspective. Initially struggling with feelings of dissonance
due to the contrasting societal values, he eventually embraces
the ethic of community, recognizing the importance of
interconnectedness and relational duties. He gains
appreciation for the ethic of divinity, understanding the
significance of purity, respect, and hierarchy, and seeing
these values as integral to a cohesive society.

Moral Pluralism and Awakening

Haidt illustrates the idea of moral pluralism, acknowledging

that different moral matrices coexist and shape individual
experiences and societal norms. He reflects on his upbringing
in a liberal setting that emphasized autonomy, and how
learning about alternative moral frameworks has enabled him
to view differing perspectives without prejudice.

CONCLUSION

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The chapter concludes with Haidt’s assertion that morality
extends beyond the parameters of harm and fairness. He
emphasizes the need for understanding various moral
foundations and frameworks, supporting the idea that moral
pluralism is descriptive of human societies. Haidt aims to
explore the broader moral landscape in the following
chapters, encouraging readers to appreciate diverse moral
perspectives.

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Example
Key Point:Cultural context shapes our moral
judgments.
Example:Imagine finding yourself in a vibrant market in
India, where the bustling crowds reflect a tapestry of
relationships and obligations. As you observe locals
interacting with deep respect for their community, your
own individualistic lens starts to blur. You witness a
vendor passionately prioritizing the well-being of his
family over personal gain, challenging your biases about
autonomy and rights. This experience transforms your
understanding of morality beyond mere harm and
fairness, inviting you to appreciate the profound
connection of community and the ethics of divinity
inherent in their customs.

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Chapter 6 Summary : Taste Buds of the
Righteous Mind

Taste Buds of the Righteous Mind

In this chapter, Jonathan Haidt explores the complexities of

morality through a metaphor involving a unique restaurant
that serves only sweeteners. He contrasts moral monism,
which reduces morality to a single principle (like welfare or
rights), with moral pluralism, emphasizing the richness of
moral experience shaped by culture and individual history.
This perspective aligns with the view that morality is akin to
cuisine, influenced by biological, historical, and cultural
factors. Haidt introduces the notion of moral diversity
supported by common evolutionary roots, suggesting that
understanding morality requires examining both universal
and culturally specific elements.

The Birth of Moral Science

Haidt examines the Enlightenment’s intellectual landscape,

focusing on David Hume's contributions to moral

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philosophy. Hume argued for an empirical approach to
understanding morality, emphasizing the role of human
sentiments rather than pure reasoning. He posited that moral
judgments are akin to sensory perceptions. The chapter notes
that despite Hume's insights, the moral sciences diverged into
rationalism after his death, favoring systematic methods over
empirical observation.

Attack of the Systemizers

The discussion shifts to the field of psychology, introducing

the concept of empathizing and systemizing as cognitive
dimensions. People who are high on systemizing may
develop rigid moral theories, such as those by Jeremy
Bentham (utilitarianism) and Immanuel Kant (deontology),
who both exemplified low empathizing traits. Haidt draws
parallels between the rigid structures of their philosophies
and the characteristics of individuals on the autism spectrum,
suggesting that an overemphasis on systemizing can lead to a
neglect of empathy in moral reasoning.

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Jeremy Bentham's utilitarian philosophy, grounded in a

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 Chapter 7 Summary : The Moral
Foundations of Politics
Section Summary

The Moral The chapter critiques the view of humanity as "Homo economicus," suggesting that human behavior
Foundations of is influenced by multiple moral foundations, not just self-interest.
Politics

A Note on Innateness Highlights that certain traits may be innate yet flexible, shaped by experience, leading to moral
foundations that create moral diversity across cultures.

The Care/Harm Discusses the evolutionary significance of caring for vulnerable offspring, which fosters empathy and
Foundation moral emotions related to well-being and suffering.

The Framed as a response to exploitation, this foundation emphasizes ethical behavior and reciprocity,
Fairness/Cheating with different political implications for liberals and conservatives.
Foundation

The Loyalty/Betrayal Highlights an innate tribalism tendency, stressing group cohesion and the negative feelings related to
Foundation betrayal, impacting political affiliations.

The This foundation relates to respect for hierarchy, with varying political attitudes toward authority,
Authority/Subversion conservatively favoring traditional structures.
Foundation

The Examines moral reactions to purity threats, with implications on ethics, emphasizing conservative
Sanctity/Degradation emphasis on sanctity versus liberal individualism.
Foundation

In Sum Identifies five innate moral foundations (Care, Fairness, Loyalty, Authority, Sanctity) and discusses
their different applications across the political spectrum, noting conservatives utilize a broader moral
palette.

The Moral Foundations of Politics

The chapter discusses the flaws in the traditional view of

humanity as "Homo economicus," emphasizing that human
behavior is motivated by a range of moral foundations rather
than solely by self-interest. By illustrating various moral

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scenarios, the author argues that individuals possess deeper
moral concerns that stem from innate foundations.

A Note on Innateness

The text highlights advancements in understanding human

behavior, illustrating that certain traits can be innate but
flexible, changing based on experience. This framework
allows for the identification of moral foundations that
influence human nature across cultures, forming the basis of
moral diversity.

The Care/Harm Foundation

The author explains the evolutionary importance of caring

for vulnerable offspring, suggesting that this biological
imperative is foundational in developing empathy and moral
emotions like concern for suffering. The Care foundation
motivates individuals to prioritize the well-being of children
and respond to signs of distress.

The Fairness/Cheating Foundation

The Fairness foundation is framed as a response to the need

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for cooperation without exploitation. It leads to a keen
awareness of reciprocity and drives ethical behavior,
manifesting in various political ideologies—liberals focus on
equality, while conservatives emphasize equitable rewards.

The Loyalty/Betrayal Foundation

Sherif's Robbers Cave experiment illustrates the innate

tendency toward tribalism. The Loyalty foundation stresses
the importance of group cohesion and the negative emotions
associated with betrayal, impacting political behavior and
affiliation.

The Authority/Subversion Foundation

This foundation relates to respect for hierarchical

relationships, asserting that authority can be perceived
positively when it ensures order and social benefits. Political
implications highlight varying attitudes toward hierarchy
among conservatives and liberals, with the former often
supporting traditional structures.

The Sanctity/Degradation Foundation

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The discussion of this foundation revolves around the moral
reactions to perceived threats to purity and the sacred. It
addresses how these perceptions can shape environmental
and biomedical ethics, emphasizing the conservative reliance
on themes of sanctity compared to the more individualistic
approach often taken by liberals.

In Sum

The chapter identifies five innate moral foundations—Care,

Fairness, Loyalty, Authority, and Sanctity—and examines
how they are employed differently across the political
spectrum. It posits that while liberals focus largely on Care
and Fairness, conservatives utilize a broader array of the
foundations, suggesting a more diverse moral palette that
may provide them with greater political resonance.

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Critical Thinking
Key Point:Human behavior is motivated by a range
of moral foundations rather than solely by
self-interest.
Critical Interpretation:While Haidt argues for the
complexity of human motivation through innate moral
foundations, it is essential to question whether this
perspective truly encapsulates the full range of human
behaviors and motivations. The view that moral
diversity is innate might oversimplify the intricate web
of social, environmental, and psychological factors that
also influence moral decision-making. For instance,
research in social psychology, such as studies by
Kahneman (2011) in 'Thinking, Fast and Slow', suggests
that cognitive biases and contextual factors play a
significant role in shaping choices, often contradicting
the idea of purely innate moral foundations. Thus,
readers should consider the broader context and
complexities behind human behavior that might
challenge Haidt’s assertions.

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Chapter 8 Summary : The Conservative
Advantage

The Conservative Advantage

In January 2005, the author Jonathan Haidt spoke to the

Charlottesville Democratic Party about moral psychology
and discussed how Republicans understand moral
psychology better than Democrats. He argued that while
Democrats focus on policy details, Republicans adeptly
appeal to voters' emotional and moral instincts. This is
evident from rhetorical strategies, like George W. Bush’s
focus on responsibility versus John Kerry’s ineffectual
phrasing.
Haidt claimed that Republicans have a monopoly on moral
appeals that encompass all five moral foundations—Care,
Fairness, Loyalty, Authority, and Sanctity—while Democrats
primarily focus on Care and Fairness. Bill Clinton, according
to Haidt, successfully combined gregariousness with
emotional connection, appealing to a broader moral palate.

Measuring Morals

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In the ensuing years, Haidt and graduate student Jesse
Graham developed the Moral Foundations Questionnaire
(MFQ) to measure individuals' moral values. Their research
indicated that liberals tend to prioritize Care and Fairness,
while conservatives recognize all five moral foundations
equally. This was confirmed through various studies and
cross-cultural data, indicating a broader moral framework
among conservatives compared to liberals.

What Makes People Vote Republican?

Haidt's concerns deepened during Barack Obama’s

presidential candidacy, as he initially appeared to embrace a
broader moral perspective but later became mired in a focus
on Care and Fairness. This shift could alienate voters who
value loyalty and tradition.
In an essay titled “What Makes People Vote Republican?”,
Haidt posited that progressive thinkers often dismiss
conservatism as psychological pathology. He suggested that
Democrats need to recognize the legitimacy of conservative
viewpoints, which often reflect a Durkheimian vision of
society grounded in loyalty, duty, and tradition.

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What I Had Missed

Responses to Haidt’s essay revealed a significant divide in

perceptions of fairness. Many conservatives view fairness
through the lens of proportionality—those who contribute
more should reap more rewards—whereas the left often
emphasizes equality. This highlighted the necessity for
liberals to understand and integrate notions of fairness that
account for proportionality.

The Liberty/Oppression Foundation

Haidt established a sixth moral foundation:

Liberty/Oppression. This foundation emphasizes resistance
to oppression and reflects concerns about domination. While
liberals often invoke this foundation in advocating for the
oppressed, conservatives leverage it in opposition to
government overreach.

Fairness as Proportionality

The conception of fairness has evolved, suggesting that it

fundamentally operates on principles of proportionality
rather than equality. This distinction aids in understanding

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the different ways each political faction perceives social
justice.

Three versus Six

Ultimately, Moral Foundations Theory suggests that liberals

operate on a three-foundation morality (Care, Liberty, and
Fairness) whereas conservatives encompass all six
foundations. Haidt concludes that understanding and
addressing these moral differences is crucial for Democrats
seeking electoral success. Until they acknowledge the
broader moral palette valued by voters, they will struggle to
connect with rural and working-class Americans who often
vote Republican.

In Sum

Haidt's examination of moral psychology reveals how moral

intuitions drive political behavior, and emphasizes that moral
diversity can lead to division among groups. This insight
leads into a deeper exploration of how morality influences
social cohesion and conflict in the next part of the book.

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Chapter 9 Summary : Why Are We So
Groupish?

Why Are We So Groupish?

In the aftermath of the September 11 attacks, a primal urge to

signal group membership through national symbols emerged
in the author, highlighting the deep-seated human inclination
toward group identity. This chapter explores how our moral
psyche is shaped not just by selfish individualism but by a
groupish nature as well, grounded in evolutionary
psychology.

The Duality of Human Nature

The chapter contends that while much of our behavior can be

analyzed through the lens of self-interest, there exists an
equally significant 'groupish' aspect to human psychology.
These dual mechanisms—selfish individual strategies and
cooperative group strategies—have evolved through different
forms of natural selection. The author proposes that both
individual and group selection play roles in shaping human

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morality, politics, and behavior.

Darwinian Insights: Group Selection Revisited

The chapter references Darwin’s early arguments supporting

group selection, emphasizing that cohesive tribes may have
outperformed less cooperative ones. Despite criticisms
against group selection due to the free rider problem,
emerging evidence suggests that group behaviors and
adaptations can arise under certain conditions, urging a
reconsideration of group selection in understanding morality.

Exhibits Supporting Group Selection

1.
Major Transitions in Evolution:
Key evolutionary moments demonstrate that successful
cooperative groups (superorganisms) outcompete
individualistic ones, promoting a new layer of selection.
2.
Shared Intentionality:
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collaborate
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through understanding shared goals, forming the basis of
moral matrices, which govern cooperative behaviors and

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Chapter 10 Summary : The Hive Switch

The Hive Switch

In this chapter, Jonathan Haidt explores the concept of the

"hive switch," which describes humanity's capacity to
transcend self-interest and experience a collective identity or
bonding with others, particularly in group settings. Haidt
draws on historical examples, especially William McNeill's
observations about synchronized marching and collective
rituals in military contexts, to highlight how such practices
create profound bonds among individuals, making them more
cohesive and capable of overcoming larger adversaries.

The Hive Hypothesis

Haidt proposes that human nature consists of elements akin

to both chimpanzees and bees, suggesting that while we are
driven by individual competition, we also possess the
capacity for group cohesion and cooperation. This
conditional ability to enter a "hive" mindset allows
individuals to experience a temporary loss of self, resulting
in enhanced teamwork and solidarity. This hypothesis

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implies significant impacts on how we approach
organizations, religion, and personal fulfillment.

Collective Emotions

The narrative showcases historical accounts of collective

festivities, such as dance rituals, that unite people and create
social bonds. Anthropologist Barbara Ehrenreich's work
underscores the benefits of collective joy and the effects of
cultural shifts toward individualism in Europe. Haidt cites
Émile Durkheim's ideas about social facts and sentiments,
stressing the importance of collective effervescence in
fostering community through shared experiences.

So Many Ways to Flip the Switch

Haidt identifies several triggers for activating the hive

switch:
-
Awe in Nature
: Experiences of awe, as articulated by Ralph Waldo Emerson
and Charles Darwin, can induce a state in which individuals
feel part of a larger whole.
-

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Durkheimogens
: Certain hallucinogenic substances can facilitate collective
bonding and transformation during rites of passage.
-
Raves
: Modern dance parties exemplify the hive switch in action,
as shared experiences can create deep connections among
participants.

The Biology of the Hive Switch

Haidt explores the biological underpinnings of the hive

switch, particularly focusing on oxytocin—often viewed as
the "love hormone"—and mirror neurons, which facilitate
empathy and social bonding within groups. Research
indicates that these biological mechanisms inform human
behavior towards parochial altruism, enhancing bonds within
groups while fostering some level of distancing towards
outsiders.

Hives at Work

Haidt likens corporations to superorganisms, suggesting that

they exploit the hive switch to enhance cohesion and

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productivity among employees. Transformational leadership,
which emphasizes group identity and shared goals over mere
individual competition, fosters a more engaged and loyal
workforce.

Political Hives

The chapter examines how leaders can harness the hive

switch in political contexts to inspire collective action. Haidt
cautions against the potential misuse of this capacity for
manipulative purposes, as illustrated by fascist regimes,
which exploit group psychology to serve authoritarian ends.
However, he argues that healthy group dynamics can
enhance social capital and community bonds.

In Sum

Haidt concludes by affirming that happiness often comes

from our connections with others rather than from solitary
pursuits. The hive hypothesis outlines our dual nature as
individuals and as part of larger groups, emphasizing that
true fulfillment derives from meaningful relationships and
shared experiences that activate our hive switch.

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Chapter 11 Summary : Religion Is a
Team Sport

Religion Is a Team Sport

-
Tribal Rituals of College Football

College football events are likened to religious rituals where

students bond through shared experiences, costumes, and
celebrations, creating a sense of community.
-
Function of Collective Behaviors

This communal experience serves to unite individuals,

similar to religious practices, enhancing school spirit rather
than merely supporting the athletic team.
-
Understanding Religion Beyond Belief

Many scientists overlook the social aspects of religion by

focusing solely on individual beliefs. Religion functions to

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create community cohesion, which is essential for
understanding its true significance.

The Lone Believer

-
Religion and Terrorism

The perception linking Islam with terrorism arose post-9/11,

leading to critiques from both sides of the political spectrum.
Some scientists categorized all religions as delusions
hindering rational thought.
-
New Atheism Movement

Prominent figures in the New Atheism movement argue

against religion based on beliefs in supernatural agents,
focusing on the harmful actions attributed to these beliefs.
-
Need for Broader Study

Analyzing religion's social and binding practices reveals a

more accurate understanding of its role in human behavior
and morality.

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The New Atheist Story: By-Products, Then Parasites

-
Religious Beliefs as Cognitive By-Products

Some theorists propose that cognitive traits, such as

identifying agency, led to the creation of religious beliefs,
which were not directly adaptive but arose as by-products.
-
Cultural Evolution of Religion

Religions are viewed as memes that evolve culturally,

competing for survival by presenting their narratives
effectively, often at the expense of the individual’s
well-being.

A Better Story: By-Products, Then Cultural Group

Selection

-
Religion as Adaptive

Some anthropologists argue that religious practices evolve

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to enhance group cohesion and cooperation, conferring
benefits to communities through cultural evolution.
-
Case Studies Supporting Group Cohesion

Religious groups tend to outperform secular ones in

sustaining themselves over generations, highlighting the
importance of commitment and rituals.

The Durkheimian Story: By-Products, Then

Maypoles

-
Religious Solutions for Social Cohesion

The merging of Darwinian and Durkheimian theories shows

that religions facilitate cooperation and community, acting as
social glue that binds members together.
-
Gods as Tools for Binding Communities

Religious practices symbolize the collective efforts of

communities to solve social dilemmas, fostering unity and
cooperation.

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Is God a Force for Good or Evil?

-
Evaluating Religion's Impact

The debate on whether religion is a root cause of evil or a

source of morality reflects deeper societal views on trust and
community support.
-
Religious Belonging Enhancing Altruism

While religious individuals often show higher levels of

charity and trust within their communities, this parochial
altruism may not extend to outsiders.

Chimps and Bees and Gods

-
Religion in a Tribal Context

Religion may serve to strengthen in-group loyalty while

also fostering negative attitudes toward outsiders, illustrating
the dual nature of religious influence on society.

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-
The Evolving Need for Moral Frameworks

Societies without strong collective moral systems, including

those built around religious practices, may face increased
challenges, such as decreased trust and higher rates of social
issues.

The Definition of Morality (At Last)

-
Broad Definition of Morality

Defining morality as a system of interlocking values and

practices helps encapsulate social and personal elements
crucial to maintaining cooperation.
-
Function of Moral Systems

Moral systems regulate self-interest to foster cooperation,

emphasizing the relationship between individual behaviors
and the community.

In Sum

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-
Religion's Societal Role

Viewing religion as merely a belief in supernatural agents

oversimplifies its purpose; it is essential for social cohesion
and community-building.
-
Evolving with Society

Religion and moral psychology have co-evolved, helping

humans bind together for larger collective goals, which has
critical implications for understanding politics and societies
in modern contexts.

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 Chapter 12 Summary : Can’t We All
Disagree More Constructively?
Section Summary

Title Can’t We All Disagree More Constructively?

Overview American politics has become increasingly polarized, with a decline in centrism and a rise in
partisan ideologies influenced by genetic predispositions.

Political Diversity Political psychology often simplifies complex ideologies into a liberal-conservative spectrum,
which is important for understanding cultural conflicts.

From Genes to Moral Political ideologies relate to beliefs about societal order; genetics play a significant role in
Matrices shaping political attitudes beyond upbringing.

Step 1: Genes Make Brains Certain neurotransmitter-related genes are associated with political tendencies, affecting traits
like threat sensitivity and openness.

Step 2: Traits Guide Children's genetic predispositions lead to different experiences and development of unique
Children Along Different moral matrices and political beliefs.
Paths

Step 3: People Construct Individuals create life narratives shaped by experiences, which influence their political beliefs
Life Narratives and moral frameworks.

Grand Narratives Liberal and conservative narratives emphasize different moral frameworks—liberals focus on
progress, while conservatives value tradition.

Left’s Blind Spot Liberal reforms can unintentionally diminish social structures that promote cooperation, while
conservatives stress their importance.

A Yin and Two Yangs Both liberal and conservative views contribute to political discourse, highlighting victim care,
market efficiency, and societal structures, respectively.

Toward More Civil Politics Tribalism in American politics threatens bipartisan dialogue; it’s essential to implement
structural changes to foster camaraderie across ideologies.

In Sum Political ideologies stem from genetic and experiential factors; recognizing opposing
perspectives can encourage constructive discussions and improve the political landscape.

TWELVE

Can’t We All Disagree More Constructively?

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American politics has become increasingly divisive, with a
notable decline in centrism and an upswing in liberal and
conservative ideologies. This polarization is exacerbated by
shifts in Washington and media, leading to discord and
dysfunction. Psychology reveals complex reasons for these
partisan divides, with underlying genetic predispositions
influencing political affiliations.

A NOTE ABOUT POLITICAL DIVERSITY

Political psychology tends to focus on a one-dimensional

liberal-conservative spectrum, despite the richness of Diverse
ideologies. Understanding this spectrum is crucial to
addressing cultural conflicts.

FROM GENES TO MORAL MATRICES

Ideology reflects beliefs about societal order and change.

While historical perspectives link ideology to self-interest,
more recent studies highlight the heritability of political
Install Bookey
attitudes—traits Appmore
influenced to Unlock Fullthan
by genetics Text and
upbringing. Developmentally,Audio
individuals traverse from
innate genetic traits to complex social interactions that shape

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Best Quotes from The Righteous Mind
by Jonathan Haidt with Page Numbers
View on Bookey Website and Generate Beautiful Quote Images

Chapter 1 | Quotes From Pages 18-43

1.Understanding the simple fact that morality
differs around the world, and even within societies,
is the first step toward understanding your
righteous mind.
2.Rationality is our nature, and good moral reasoning is the
end point of development.
3.The moral domain varies by culture. It is unusually narrow
in Western, educated, and individualistic cultures.
4.Morality can’t be entirely self-constructed by children
based on their growing understanding of harm. Cultural
learning or guidance must play a larger role than rationalist
theories had given it.
5.We’re born to be righteous, but we have to learn what,
exactly, people like us should be righteous about.
Chapter 2 | Quotes From Pages 44-69

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1.I am dragged along by a strange new force. Desire
and reason are pulling in different directions. I see
the right way and approve it, but follow the wrong.
2.Morality binds and blinds.
3.If you want to change people’s minds, you’ve got to talk to
their elephants.
4.The rider evolved to serve the elephant.
Chapter 3 | Quotes From Pages 70-90
1.Intuitions come first, strategic reasoning second.
2.Brains evaluate instantly and constantly, adjusting behavior
to get more of the good stuff and less of the bad.
3.It is easy to see the faults of others, but difficult to see
one’s own faults.
4.Moral judgment is not a purely cerebral affair in which we
weigh concerns about harm, rights, and justice. It’s a kind
of rapid, automatic process more akin to the judgments
animals make as they move through the world.
5.Elephants rule, although they are sometimes open to
persuasion by riders.

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6.Psychopaths reason but don’t feel; infants feel but don’t
reason.
7.When my wife reprimanded me for leaving dirty dishes on
the counter, I honestly believed that I was innocent.

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Chapter 4 | Quotes From Pages 91-113
1.It is better to be than to seem virtuous.
2.We act like intuitive politicians striving to maintain
appealing moral identities in front of our multiple
constituencies.
3.A central function of thought is making sure that one acts
in ways that can be persuasively justified or excused to
others.
4.We can believe almost anything that supports our team.
5.Conscious reasoning functions like a press secretary who
automatically justifies any position taken by the president.
Chapter 5 | Quotes From Pages 114-131
1.The WEIRDer you are, the more you see a world
full of separate objects, rather than relationships.
2.There’s more to morality than harm and fairness.
3.Yet the conceptions held by others are available to us, in
the sense that when we truly understand their conception of
things we come to recognize possibilities latent within our
own rationality... We are multiple from the start.

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4.Moral matrices bind people together and blind them to the
coherence, or even existence, of other matrices.
5.If you grow up in a WEIRD society, you become so well
educated in the ethic of autonomy that you can detect
oppression and inequality even where the apparent victims
see nothing wrong.
Chapter 6 | Quotes From Pages 132-149
1.Moral principles please our minds as beef and
mutton and pork please our mouths.
2.Neither Shweder nor I am saying that 'anything goes,' or
that all societies or all cuisines are equally good.
3.Moral judgment is a kind of perception, and moral science
should begin with a careful study of the moral taste
receptors.
4.You can’t possibly deduce the list of five taste receptors by
pure reasoning, nor should you search for it in scripture.
There’s nothing transcendental about them. You’ve got to
examine tongues.
5.The second principle of moral psychology is: There’s more

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to morality than harm and fairness.

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Chapter 7 | Quotes From Pages 150-178
1.If you found any of the actions in column B worse
than their counterparts in column A, then
congratulations, you are a human being, not an
economist’s fantasy. You have concerns beyond
narrow self-interest. You have a working set of
moral foundations.
2.The Care/harm foundation evolved in response to the
adaptive challenge of caring for vulnerable children. It
makes us sensitive to signs of suffering and need; it makes
us despise cruelty and want to care for those who are
suffering.
3.Altruism toward kin is not a puzzle at all. Altruism toward
non-kin, on the other hand, has presented one of the
longest-running puzzles in the history of evolutionary
thinking.
4.Human authority, then, is not just raw power backed by the
threat of force. Human authorities take on responsibility for
maintaining order and justice.

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5.The Sanctity foundation makes it easy for us to regard
some things as ‘untouchable,’ both in a bad way (because
something is so dirty or polluted we want to stay away) and
in a good way (because something is so hallowed, so
sacred, that we want to protect it from desecration).
Chapter 8 | Quotes From Pages 179-213
1.Republicans understand moral psychology.
Democrats don’t.
2.The message of my talk to the Charlottesville Democrats
was simple: Republicans understand moral psychology.
Democrats don’t.
3.Neither George W. Bush nor his father, George H. W.
Bush, had the ability to move audiences to tears, but both
had the great fortune to run against cerebral and
emotionally cool Democrats.
4.The moral vision offered by the Democrats since the 1960s,
in contrast, seemed narrow, too focused on helping victims
and fighting for the rights of the oppressed.
5.Intuitions come first, strategic reasoning second.

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Chapter 9 | Quotes From Pages 214-247
1.We are 90 percent chimp and 10 percent bee.
2.Individuals compete with individuals, and that competition
rewards selfishness—but at the same time, groups compete
with groups, and that competition favors groups composed
of true team players.
3.Ultimately our moral sense or conscience becomes a highly
complex sentiment—originating in the social instincts,
largely guided by the approbation of our fellow-men, ruled
by reason, self-interest, and in later times by deep religious
feelings, and confirmed by instruction and habit.
4.What looks like altruism or self-sacrifice to a naive
biologist (such as that termite specialist) turns out to be
either individual selfishness or kin selection.
5.Darwin believed that morality was an adaptation that
evolved by natural selection operating at the individual
level and at the group level.

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Chapter 10 | Quotes From Pages 248-273
1.Words are inadequate to describe the emotion
aroused by the prolonged movement in unison that
drilling involved. A sense of pervasive well-being is
what I recall; more specifically, a strange sense of
personal enlargement; a sort of swelling out,
becoming bigger than life, thanks to participation
in collective ritual.
2.Many veterans who are honest with themselves will admit,
I believe, that the experience of communal effort in battle
… has been the high point of their lives. ... I believe that it
is nothing less than the assurance of immortality that makes
self-sacrifice at these moments so relatively easy.
3.We are like chimps in being primates whose minds were
shaped by the relentless competition of individuals with
their neighbors. ... But human nature also has a more recent
groupish overlay. We are like bees in being ultrasocial
creatures whose minds were shaped by the relentless
competition of groups with other groups.

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4.The hive switch, I propose, is a group-related adaptation
that can only be explained 'by a theory of between-group
selection.'
5.The very act of congregating is an exceptionally powerful
stimulant. Once the individuals are gathered together, a sort
of electricity is generated from their closeness and quickly
launches them to an extraordinary height of exaltation.
6.When I began writing The Happiness Hypothesis, I
believed that happiness came from within... But by the time
I finished writing, I had changed my mind: Happiness
comes from between.
Chapter 11 | Quotes From Pages 274-303
1.From a Durkheimian perspective these behaviors
serve a very different function, and it is the same
one that Durkheim saw at work in most religious
rituals: the creation of a community.
2.Religions are social facts. Religion cannot be studied in
lone individuals any more than hivishness can be studied in
lone bees.

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3.Religions that do a better job of binding people together
and suppressing selfishness spread at the expense of other
religions, but not necessarily by killing off the losers.
4.It’s the friendships and group activities, carried out within a
moral matrix that emphasizes selflessness. That’s what
brings out the best in people.
5.We are Homo duplex; we are 90 percent chimp and 10
percent bee. Successful religions work on both levels of our
nature to suppress selfishness, or at least to channel it in
ways that often pay dividends for the group.
Chapter 12 | Quotes From Pages 304-345
1.Politics ain’t beanbag,” said a Chicago humorist in
1895; it’s not a game for children.
2.This is not a collegial body any more. It is more like gang
behavior. Members walk into the chamber full of hatred.
3.Morality binds and blinds. This is not just something that
happens to people on the other side.
4.If you want to understand another group, follow the
sacredness.

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5.Governments can and should restrain corporate
superorganisms.
6.You don’t usually help the bees by destroying the hive.

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The Righteous Mind Questions
View on Bookey Website

Chapter 1 | Where Does Morality Come From?|

Q&A
1.Question
What moral intuition do people have about actions that
are disgusting but harmless, like eating a pet dog?
Answer:Most people initially feel disgust but
struggle to label the act as morally wrong, often but
not exclusively associating morality only with harm.

2.Question
How did the author’s view on moral development shift
from the traditional rationalist approach?
Answer:The author came to believe that morality cannot be
solely self-constructed from harm; instead, cultural
influences and emotional reactions play crucial roles.

3.Question
What does the author mean by stating that 'moral
reasoning is often a servant of emotional reactions'?
Answer:This means that people's reasoning about morality is

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frequently influenced by their gut feelings, rather than being
a purely rational process.

4.Question
How do cultural differences influence perceptions of
moral issues, particularly between individualistic and
sociocentric societies?
Answer:In individualistic societies, like the U.S., morality is
often narrowly defined around harm and justice; in contrast,
sociocentric societies have broader moral domains that
include various cultural taboos and social conventions.

5.Question
What are some implications of children’s moral
development according to research conducted by
Shweder?
Answer:Children’s understanding of morality is shaped
significantly by their cultural context, and they often
moralize about social conventions that may not involve direct
harm.

6.Question
What feelings or instincts do people experience in

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response to harmless taboo violations?
Answer:People commonly feel disgust or disrespect towards
actions that violate cultural norms, even when these actions
do not cause harm to anyone.

7.Question
What fundamental takeaway does the author suggest
about the origins of morality?
Answer:Morality is shaped by a combination of cultural
learning and innate intuitions, not merely through rational
reasoning about harm.

8.Question
How does the author critique the rationalist model of
moral psychology?
Answer:The author critiques the rationalist model by
providing evidence that moral judgments are influenced by
emotions, suggesting that reasoning often seeks to justify
pre-existing moral intuitions rather than create them.

9.Question
What key insights from Piaget and Kohlberg does the
author build upon in discussing moral development?

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Answer:Both Piaget and Kohlberg emphasize stages in moral
reasoning development, but the author also points out that
moral learning is not just self-constructed; it is enriched by
social and emotional contexts.

10.Question
What evidence does the author present regarding moral
judgments across different cultures?
Answer:Research revealed that while Americans tend to
distinguish between moral and conventional violations,
individuals from cultures like Orissa tend to see moral
implications in a wider range of actions, including those seen
as socially conventional in the West.
Chapter 2 | The Intuitive Dog and Its Rational Tail|
Q&A
1.Question
What is the relationship between reason and emotion
according to Jonathan Haidt?
Answer:Haidt argues that reason (the rider) often
serves emotion (the elephant). While Western
philosophy has traditionally viewed reason as the

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master of emotion, Haidt asserts that intuitions and
emotions come first in moral judgment, and
reasoning typically follows to justify those
judgments.

2.Question
How does Aristotle’s model differ from Plato's and
Hume's perspectives?
Answer:Aristotle’s model suggests that reason and emotion
coexist and function together, emphasizing balance. In
contrast, Plato sees reason as supreme, while Hume sees
emotion as the primary driver of moral judgment.

3.Question
What insights does Damasio's research provide about
decision-making?
Answer:Antonio Damasio’s research indicates that emotions
are crucial for rational decision-making. His patients, who
lacked emotional responses due to brain damage, struggled to
make effective decisions, demonstrating that emotions help
us weigh options and make judgements.

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4.Question
What does the term 'social intuitionist model' refer to?
Answer:The social intuitionist model posits that moral
judgments are primarily driven by intuitive, emotional
responses, with reasoning serving as a post hoc justification
rather than a guiding principle. Social influence also plays a
significant role in shaping our moral intuitions.

5.Question
Why is it difficult to change someone's mind during
moral arguments?
Answer:It is challenging to change someone's mind in moral
discussions because individuals often rely on their intuitions
rather than rational reasoning. When their intuitions are
challenged, they tend to seek justifications to reinforce their
original beliefs instead of genuinely considering the
opposing perspective.

6.Question
How does empathy contribute to understanding across
moral divides?
Answer:Empathy helps bridge gaps in understanding across

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moral divides by allowing individuals to see things from
others' perspectives. This approach can foster dialogue and
potentially lead to a change in one’s own intuitions and
beliefs.

7.Question
What metaphor does Haidt use to describe the interplay
between intuition and reasoning?
Answer:Haidt uses the metaphor of a rider (reason) and an
elephant (intuition) to illustrate how intuition often leads to
moral judgments, while reasoning typically follows to justify
those judgments.

8.Question
What is the significance of the 'seeing-that' and
'reasoning-why' distinction?
Answer:The distinction emphasizes that "seeing-that" refers
to the immediate, intuitive judgments people make, while
"reasoning-why" involves the conscious efforts to explain or
justify those judgments after they have occurred. This
highlights the often unconscious and automatic nature of

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moral intuitions.

9.Question
How can understanding morality as a social intuitionist
model influence the approach to moral discussions?
Answer:Recognizing morality as a social intuitionist model
suggests that effective moral discourse should engage
individuals’ emotional intuitions first, rather than solely
presenting logical arguments. This can lead to more
meaningful conversations and a greater likelihood of
changing minds.

10.Question
What does Jonathan Haidt hope to achieve with his
exploration of moral psychology?
Answer:Haidt aims to shift readers’ views on morality and
politics by appealing to their intuitions and encouraging a
more nuanced understanding of the interplay between
emotion and reason in moral judgment.
Chapter 3 | Elephants Rule| Q&A
1.Question
What realization did Jonathan Haidt come to while

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writing about moral psychology?
Answer:He realized that he was engaging in the
same self-justifying behavior he was describing; he
fabricated excuses for leaving dirty dishes on the
counter purely based on his initial negative intuition
about his wife's criticism.

2.Question
How does Jonathan Haidt illustrate the principle
"Intuitions come first, strategic reasoning second"?
Answer:He shares a study where subjects, placed in a
hypnotic state to feel disgust, judged morally neutral actions
more harshly if their trigger word was present in the
narrative. This shows that initial gut reactions can overpower
logical reasoning.

3.Question
What is the role of the elephant and the rider in moral
psychology, according to the text?
Answer:The elephant represents our automatic, intuitive
responses, while the rider symbolizes our rational thought

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processes. Decisions are primarily driven by the elephant
(intuition), but the rider tries to justify or navigate those
intuitive responses.

4.Question
What findings from psychology support the idea that our
brains constantly evaluate situations?
Answer:Studies show that our brains rapidly assess situations
for potential threats or benefits. This evaluation happens
instantly, sometimes before conscious awareness, affecting
our subsequent feelings and judgments.

5.Question
How do bodily states influence moral decisions, based on
the text?
Answer:Research demonstrated that unpleasant smells
increased the harshness of moral judgments. For instance,
people exposed to foul odors judged moral issues more
negatively, showing our moral perceptions can be swayed by
physical sensations.

6.Question
What does the nature of psychopathy reveal about moral

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reasoning and emotion?
Answer:Psychopaths can reason effectively but lack moral
emotions, meaning they do not feel compassion, guilt, or
shame. This indicates that effective reasoning without
emotional awareness leads to dangerous moral deficits.

7.Question
What did studies involving infants uncover about their
moral intuitions?
Answer:Infants exhibit moral preferences by showing longer
interest in helpful actions over harmful ones, indicating they
can make social evaluations before they have developed
reasoning abilities, further supporting that moral intuition
emerges early.

8.Question
Why does Jonathan Haidt argue that reason is a servant
to our emotions?
Answer:Haidt explains that while we often engage in
reasoning to justify our intuitive responses, the initial
emotional reaction (the elephant) drives our judgments. The

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rider's role is mostly to frame and defend these gut feelings.

9.Question
How can people's intuitions change according to the
social context, particularly during conversations?
Answer:When engaging with others in a friendly, respectful
environment, the 'elephant' is more likely to be swayed by
the other person's arguments or emotional appeal, leading to
possible shifts in moral judgment.

10.Question
What situation illustrates how people can change their
judgments after a period of reflection?
Answer:In an experiment, participants who had to wait
before responding to moral scenarios were more inclined to
reconsider their judgment, showing that allowing time for
reflection can alter the initially instinctive response.

11.Question
What is the main takeaway regarding moral psychology
from Chapter 3?
Answer:The central principle is that our moral judgments are
primarily influenced by initial intuitions, and rational thought

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often serves to justify those intuitions rather than to
challenge them.

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Chapter 4 | Vote for Me (Here’s Why)| Q&A
1.Question
What is the core challenge posed by Glaucon in Plato’s
Republic regarding justice and happiness?
Answer:Glaucon challenges Socrates to prove that a
just man, despite having a bad reputation, is happier
than an unjust man who is perceived as virtuous.
This raises the question of whether individual
morality is contingent upon external perception
rather than intrinsic virtue.

2.Question
How does Socrates argue that reason must rule in both a
just city and a happy person?
Answer:Socrates posits that a just city is harmonious and
promotes the common good through cooperation and proper
governance by philosophers. Similarly, in a happy person,
reason must govern desires and emotions to pursue what is
truly good, rather than simply appearing virtuous to others.

3.Question
What does the term 'intuitive politicians' refer to in the

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context of human social behavior?
Answer:The term 'intuitive politicians' suggests that
individuals navigate social interactions aiming to maintain
their reputations and moral identities, rather than seeking
objective truths, similar to how politicians craft their
messages based on audience appeal.

4.Question
What did Phil Tetlock's research find about
accountability in decision making?
Answer:Tetlock found that people are more likely to engage
in thorough, self-critical reasoning when they are accountable
to an audience. However, in most cases without such
accountability, they tend to engage in confirmatory thinking
that aligns with their existing beliefs.

5.Question
How does motivated reasoning affect our beliefs and
perceptions according to the chapter?
Answer:Motivated reasoning causes individuals to interpret
evidence in a way that supports their desired beliefs. When

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people want to believe something, they search for
justifications, whereas if they don’t want to believe it, they
look for reasons to dismiss it, often leading to biased
conclusions.

6.Question
What is the main argument against the rationalist belief
in moral reasoning as a pathway to ethical behavior?
Answer:The chapter argues against the rationalist view that
reasoning leads to moral behavior by suggesting that moral
philosophers do not exhibit greater ethical behavior than
others. Instead, reasoning often serves to rationalize
pre-existing beliefs rather than uncover moral truths.

7.Question
What can be inferred about the relationship between
reasoning and social identity?
Answer:Individuals often prioritize their group identity over
self-interest, leading them to use reasoning to defend their
group's beliefs and positions rather than seeking truth.
Political opinions serve as badges of group membership,

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reinforcing tribal behavior.

8.Question
How do humans typically respond to situations that
involve plausible deniability?
Answer:In situations where they can justify their actions due
to a lack of direct accountability, many individuals may act
unethically while still maintaining a self-concept of honesty,
as evidenced by behaviors in studies on dishonesty.

9.Question
What insights does the chapter provide regarding the
nature of truth in scientific discourse?
Answer:The chapter suggests that, unlike scientists who must
eventually align their beliefs with empirical truths or risk
discreditation, non-scientists often find ways to justify their
beliefs, regardless of the evidence, leading to polarized and
biased interpretations.

10.Question
Why is it argued that working in groups can enhance
reasoning abilities?
Answer:The chapter argues that individuals should not be

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viewed as isolated thinkers. When in diverse groups where
they can challenge one another, they are likely to produce
better reasoning and decision-making outcomes as a
collective system, rather than relying solely on individual
biases.
Chapter 5 | Beyond WEIRD Morality| Q&A
1.Question
How does the author illustrate the concept of WEIRD
morality?
Answer:The author uses his experiences as a
researcher at the University of Pennsylvania,
contrasting the reactions of college students with
those of working-class adults in evaluating moral
dilemmas. He notes that Penn students often
dismissed their gut reactions of disgust to certain
actions, adhering strictly to the 'harm principle' that
prioritizes individual autonomy over communal
values.

2.Question

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What are the three ethics proposed by Shweder, and how
do they differ?
Answer:The three ethics are: 1) The ethic of autonomy,
which focuses on individual rights and personal freedom. 2)
The ethic of community, which emphasizes duty and the
interdependence of individuals within larger social groups. 3)
The ethic of divinity, which sees the body and soul as vessels
that should be treated with reverence based on a higher order.

3.Question
What personal transformation did the author undergo
during his time in India?
Answer:The author initially approached Indian culture
through the lens of his own Western, individualistic
perspectives. However, through empathy and engagement
with his hosts, he began to appreciate the values of
community and divinity, recognizing the beauty in traditions
that prioritize collective well-being and moral purity over
individual desires.

4.Question

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Why does the author believe moral pluralism is
important?
Answer:Moral pluralism acknowledges the existence of
diverse moral frameworks across cultures. It allows
individuals to appreciate and understand moral systems
different from their own, thus fostering empathy and
reducing the tendency to view others through a narrow,
biased lens.

5.Question
What does the author mean by saying, 'There’s more to
morality than harm and fairness'?
Answer:This statement encapsulates the idea that Western
moral thought, which often emphasizes harm and fairness,
does not encompass the entirety of moral concerns present in
other cultures. Other factors such as community duties and
spiritual purity also play significant roles in moral judgment.

6.Question
How can understanding moral diversity help in resolving
conflicts?

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Answer:By recognizing diverse moral frameworks,
individuals can engage more constructively in discussions
and debates, seeking common ground rather than allowing
their own moral biases to dominate their understanding of
others' moral views.

7.Question
What role does empathy play in understanding different
moralities according to the author?
Answer:Empathy allows individuals to step outside their own
moral frameworks and appreciate the values and beliefs of
others, leading to a deeper understanding and potential
acceptance of moral systems that prioritize communal and
divine ethics.

8.Question
What practical tools does the author suggest for
navigating moral arguments from different matrices?
Answer:The author proposes that by identifying innate moral
foundations that underlie various cultural ethical systems,
individuals can better understand, engage with, and analyze

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moral arguments that differ from their own.

9.Question
In what ways does the author argue that WEIRD cultures
are statistically outliers?
Answer:The author cites research indicating that WEIRD
cultures (Western, educated, industrialized, rich, democratic)
exhibit different psychological traits compared to the global
average, particularly in their moral reasoning, which is
heavily influenced by individual autonomy rather than
community or divinity.

10.Question
How did the author’s educational background shape his
initial perspectives on morality?
Answer:The author's upbringing in a liberal Jewish
environment and his education at Yale imbued him with a
strong belief in liberal values, shaping a view that often
rejected conservative moral reasoning as misguided or
unethical. This background made it challenging for him to
appreciate other moral frameworks until he was exposed to

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different ethical systems in India.
Chapter 6 | Taste Buds of the Righteous Mind| Q&A
1.Question
What is the metaphor used to describe morality in the
chapter?
Answer:Morality is compared to cuisine, where the
righteous mind is likened to a tongue with six taste
receptors, suggesting that while moral judgments
vary like food preferences across cultures, they are
all based on the same underlying receptors.

2.Question
How does Jonathan Haidt illustrate the complexity of
moral understanding?
Answer:By mentioning the 'True Taste' restaurant and its
focus on a single receptor (sweetness), he illustrates how
overly simplistic moral theories, such as utilitarianism and
deontology, fail to capture the rich diversity of moral
experiences.

3.Question
What historical figures does Haidt discuss in relation to

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moral philosophy, and how are they characterized?
Answer:Haidt discusses Jeremy Bentham and Immanuel
Kant, characterizing Bentham as an extreme systemizer with
low empathy, and Kant as another brilliant systemizer who
also exhibits low levels of empathizing.

4.Question
What does Haidt mean when he says moral psychology
must start with empirical observation?
Answer:Haidt argues that moral psychology should be based
on real human behavior and emotional responses rather than
purely rational or theoretical constructs, emphasizing the
importance of studying moral intuitions and sentiments.

5.Question
What are the five moral foundations proposed by Haidt?
Answer:The five proposed moral foundations are: care
(protecting the vulnerable), fairness (justice), loyalty (group
allegiance), authority (respecting tradition and hierarchy),
and sanctity (cherishing purity and community).

6.Question
What role does evolutionary psychology play in

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understanding morality according to Haidt?
Answer:Evolutionary psychology provides insights into why
certain moral intuitions exist based on historical social
challenges, suggesting that human morality has evolved in
response to our social environment.

7.Question
How does Haidt critique traditional moral theories in this
chapter?
Answer:Haidt critiques traditional moral theories like
utilitarianism and deontology for being too reductionist,
arguing they fail to account for the complex, multi-faceted
nature of human morality that incorporates multiple
emotional and cultural elements.

8.Question
What is the significance of the 'taste receptors' analogy in
moral judgment?
Answer:The analogy signifies that just as people have
different tastes in food based on cultural and personal
experiences, people have different moral judgments

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influenced by their own backgrounds and societal contexts.

9.Question
How does moral foundations theory help in
understanding political and cultural divisions?
Answer:Moral foundations theory helps identify the
underlying moral receptors that drive people's beliefs and
values, explaining why individuals from different political or
cultural backgrounds might perceive issues so differently.

10.Question
In what way does Haidt want to expand the field of moral
psychology?
Answer:Haidt aims to develop a more comprehensive moral
psychology that acknowledges a range of moral intuitions
beyond just harm and fairness, making space for insights
from both empirical research and cultural understanding.

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Chapter 7 | The Moral Foundations of Politics| Q&A
1.Question
What is the key argument about human nature that
Jonathan Haidt presents in Chapter 7?
Answer:Haidt argues against the notion of 'Homo
economicus'—the idea that humans act solely out of
self-interest. He suggests that humans have a range
of moral foundations that profoundly influence
behavior, indicating that people's choices are not
just calculated selfish acts but are often guided by
deeper moral intuitions.

2.Question
How does Haidt define moral foundations, and what role
do they play in shaping our decisions?
Answer:Moral foundations are innate psychological systems
that prompt us to react with emotions like care, fairness,
loyalty, authority, and sanctity. They shape our ethical
perspectives and political beliefs, often influencing our
judgments about right and wrong beyond rational

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calculations.

3.Question
What distinction does Haidt make between how the left
and right utilize moral foundations?
Answer:Haidt notes that the political left primarily engages
with the Care and Fairness foundations, focusing on issues
related to empathy and equality. In contrast, the right draws
upon all five moral foundations, including Loyalty,
Authority, and Sanctity, which allows them to appeal to a
broader range of voters by invoking traditional values and
group cohesion.

4.Question
Can you explain the Care/Harm foundation and its
evolutionary significance?
Answer:The Care/Harm foundation evolved from the
necessity of nurturing vulnerable offspring in mammals. This
emotional response to suffering helps ensure that caregivers
instinctively protect those in distress, fostering social bonds
and cooperation necessary for survival, especially in human

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societies.

5.Question
What insights does Haidt provide about the
Fairness/Cheating foundation?
Answer:Haidt explains that the Fairness/Cheating foundation
is rooted in reciprocal altruism, where cooperation is
rewarded and exploitation is punished. This foundation
promotes trust and collaboration, essential for societal
functioning and community building.

6.Question
How does the Loyalty/Betrayal foundation manifest in
societal behaviors and politics?
Answer:The Loyalty/Betrayal foundation encourages
individuals to form groups and maintain collective identities.
It fosters a sense of belonging and loyalty but also leads to an
aversion to traitors, playing a significant role in political
polarization as groups define themselves against perceived
enemies.

7.Question
Discuss the Authority/Subversion foundation and its

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relevance in human hierarchies.
Answer:The Authority/Subversion foundation helps maintain
social order through respect for hierarchies. It governs
relationships where roles are established, suggesting that
authority can provide stability and benefit to society, even as
it can also lead to exploitation by those in power.

8.Question
What is the Sanctity/Degradation foundation, and why is
it important in moral discussions?
Answer:The Sanctity/Degradation foundation originated to
help humans navigate threats from pathogens and parasites. It
influences feelings of disgust and reverence, playing a
critical role in how societies view sacred values, such as life
and bodily integrity, thus impacting debates on issues like
abortion and bioethics.

9.Question
How does Haidt relate the moral foundations to political
dynamics and group identities?
Answer:Haidt illustrates that individuals' reliance on

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different moral foundations can create distinct political
identities. The left's focus on harm and fairness leads to
inclusivity in social justice, while the right's wider range of
moral appeals—including loyalty to nation and
community—often results in stronger in-group solidarity and
resistance to change.

10.Question
What overarching message does Haidt convey regarding
morality and politics?
Answer:Haidt emphasizes that understanding diverse moral
foundations is vital for engaging in political discourse.
Recognizing that morality is not monolithic but rather shaped
by various innate intuitions can foster empathy and better
communication between opposing political ideologies.
Chapter 8 | The Conservative Advantage| Q&A
1.Question
What is the main message that Republicans understand
about moral psychology compared to Democrats?
Answer:Republicans leverage a broader set of moral

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foundations, appealing to emotions and intuitions
effectively, while Democrats often rely on a more
limited focus on Care and Fairness.

2.Question
What was the significance of the slogan "You gonna pay
for that, George?" in John Kerry's campaign?
Answer:This slogan would have framed Bush's policies as
reckless spending rather than generosity, tapping into
people's intuitions about fairness and cheating.

3.Question
How do Republicans utilize the five moral foundations
differently than Democrats?
Answer:Republicans incorporate Loyalty, Authority, and
Sanctity into their messaging, appealing to patriotism and
tradition, whereas Democrats primarily focus on Care and
Fairness.

4.Question
What do the differences in moral foundations suggest
about the voting behavior of rural and working-class
Americans?

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Answer:These voters prioritize their moral interests, favoring
a conservative platform that resonates with their broader
moral foundation rather than their economic self-interest.

5.Question
What role does the Liberty/oppression foundation play in
American politics?
Answer:This foundation drives feelings of resistance against
authority and bullying, providing a moral impetus for both
leftist and rightist movements, emphasizing liberation from
oppression.

6.Question
How has the understanding of fairness evolved according
to the author?
Answer:Fairness is reframed as proportionality, focusing on
the moral intuitions of deserving rewards based on
contributions rather than mere equality.

7.Question
Why do the author and his colleagues conclude that
moral matrices are key to understanding political
affiliations?

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Answer:Recognizing that people's moral frameworks inform
their political beliefs can help explain why individuals
strongly align with parties that resonate with their core moral
intuitions.

8.Question
What implications do these findings have for the
Democratic Party in terms of messaging?
Answer:Democrats need to appeal to a broader range of
moral foundations beyond just Care and Fairness to connect
with a wider audience, particularly those who prioritize
loyalty and authority.

9.Question
What can we learn from the reactions to the author's
essay on conservatism?
Answer:The divided reactions highlight a fundamental
disconnect in understanding conservative morality, with
many refusing to see it as a legitimate alternative to liberal
moral frameworks.

10.Question
What does the author suggest about the psychological

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underpinnings of political conflict?
Answer:The divergence in moral foundations between
liberals and conservatives leads to deep-seated
misunderstandings and hostilities, indicating that morality
can both unite and divide groups.
Chapter 9 | Why Are We So Groupish?| Q&A
1.Question
What personal experiences can illustrate the concept of
being groupish, especially during crises?
Answer:The immediate urge for flag display and
acts of charity following the 9/11 attacks exemplifies
our groupish nature. Many people, feeling a sudden
surge of national identity, displayed flags and
offered help to others, including strangers. This
behavior illustrates how crises can activate our
instinct to bond with and support our 'team', in this
case, the nation. Such experiences evoke strong
emotional connections, even if individuals might
typically identify as liberal or global in perspective.

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2.Question
How does the author differentiate between selfishness and
groupishness in human nature?
Answer:Selfishness is tied to individual benefits and
self-promotion, while groupishness refers to behaviors that
promote the welfare and interests of one’s group, sometimes
even at a personal cost. While individuals may act out of
self-interest, they also exhibit teamwork and cooperation,
showing that humans are capable of both self-serving and
altruistic behaviors. This duality suggests that our minds
have evolved mechanisms for both individual and collective
survival.

3.Question
What role does group selection play in the evolution of
human morality according to the author?
Answer:Group selection suggests that humans have evolved
to function well in groups through mechanisms that enhance
cooperation and cohesion. While much morality can explain
individual behavior, group selection proposes that groups

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with more cooperative individuals tend to outcompete groups
with selfish individuals. The result is a moral framework that
benefits the group, potentially leading to cohesive societies.

4.Question
Can you explain the major transitions in evolution that
support group selection?
Answer:Major transitions, such as the evolution from
single-celled organisms to multicellular organisms, showcase
how groups of organisms can become more efficient and
adaptable through cooperation. These transitions often result
in entities that operate as a single unit (superorganisms),
leading to enhanced survival and reproduction, which
support the idea that group-level selection is a valid concept
in explaining the evolution of complex social behaviors.

5.Question
What does shared intentionality contribute to the concept
of groupishness?
Answer:Shared intentionality refers to the ability of
individuals to align their thoughts and actions towards

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common goals. This capacity likely distinguishes humans
from other species and embodies the foundation of social
collaboration. By enabling coordinated actions and mutual
understanding, shared intentionality promotes moral
matrices—a societal understanding of values and norms that
govern behavior in a group context.

6.Question
How does the interplay of genes and culture affect human
evolution and morality?
Answer:Gene-culture coevolution indicates that our
biological evolution is closely tied to cultural innovations. As
cultures develop new practices, norms, and moral
frameworks, they can exert selection pressures on the human
genome, leading to the evolution of traits that facilitate
cooperation and social bonding. Thus, morality and
groupishness are likely products of this ongoing interplay
between our biology and sociocultural environment.

7.Question
What does the author mean by saying humans are '90
percent chimp and 10 percent bee'?

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Answer:This metaphor highlights the duality of human
nature, where we possess strong individualistic traits typical
of primates (the 'chimp') and communal instincts akin to
ultra-social species like bees (the 'bee'). This suggests that we
have an inherent desire for belonging and cooperation,
prompting groupish behaviors, especially under collective
circumstances, alongside our selfish tendencies.

8.Question
What implications does the idea of group selection have
for understanding contemporary societal issues?
Answer:Understanding group selection can reshape how we
approach societal structures and dynamics. If collective
behaviors and moral norms developed through evolutionary
processes, then contemporary issues such as tribalism,
nationalism, and social cooperation can be seen as extensions
of our evolutionary history. Addressing these challenges
positively may require fostering environments that encourage
cooperation and mutual understanding, reflecting our
inherent groupish tendencies.

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Chapter 10 | The Hive Switch| Q&A
1.Question
What is the significance of the concept of 'the hive switch'
as proposed by Jonathan Haidt?
Answer:The hive switch signifies our ability to
transcend individual self-interest and become part
of a collective, enhancing group cohesion and
successful cooperation. It reflects a deep biological
and social adaptation that allows us to connect,
bond, and function as a unit, especially in
competitive situations against other groups.

2.Question
How does the idea of 'muscular bonding' relate to
collective experiences in groups?
Answer:Muscular bonding, described by historian William
McNeill, refers to the synchronization of movement among
individuals, such as marching in formation, which can lead to
a heightened sense of connection, trust, and a collective
identity. This bonding is crucial in contexts like military

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training, where individuals morph from 'I' to 'we', fostering a
communal spirit essential for effective group functioning.

3.Question
What role does awe in nature play in flipping the hive
switch?
Answer:Experiencing awe in nature can instantaneously shift
one’s focus from individual concerns to a feeling of oneness
with the universe. Both Ralph Waldo Emerson and Charles
Darwin described experiences where nature induced a sense
of losing the self, thus activating the hive switch and
connecting them to something larger than their individual
existence.

4.Question
How do hallucinogenic substances relate to the hive
switch concept?
Answer:Hallucinogenic substances, such as psilocybin
mushrooms, can induce profound mystical experiences that
temporarily dissolve a sense of self and foster feelings of
unity with others. These substances can effectively 'flip the

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hive switch', facilitating transformative experiences that
enhance group bonding and collective consciousness.

5.Question
What does Jonathan Haidt suggest about the implications
of the hive hypothesis on modern organizations?
Answer:Haidt proposes that understanding the hive
hypothesis can generate insights for creating more cohesive
and effective organizations by leveraging our groupish
nature. By fostering a work environment that emphasizes
collective goals, enhances interpersonal trust, and encourages
synchronization among team members, organizations can
boost morale and productivity.

6.Question
Why is collective effort regarded as a high point in the
lives of veterans, according to the text?
Answer:Veterans often find that their most meaningful
experiences stem from collective efforts in battle, where
individual self-interest is eclipsed by a shared mission. This
shift creates a powerful bond among comrades, reinforcing

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the notion that self-sacrifice is easier when it's for a group
with whom one identifies deeply, creating a sense of
immortality in their actions.

7.Question
In what ways can organizations cultivate a more hivish
nature among their employees?
Answer:Organizations can cultivate a hivish nature by
increasing feelings of similarity among employees,
promoting synchronous activities (like group exercises or
team rituals), and fostering healthy inter-team competition
rather than individual rivalry. By creating environments that
bolster collective pride and loyalty, organizations can
transform transactional relationships into transformational
ones.

8.Question
How did the emergence of individualism during the
Enlightenment affect collective expressions like ecstatic
dancing?
Answer:The rise of individualism during the Enlightenment
led to a decline in collective expressions such as ecstatic

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dancing, which were seen as primitive in contrast to refined
individual pursuits. As society shifted towards valuing
personal autonomy and the self over communal experiences,
practices that tightly bound individuals to their groups fell to
the wayside, impacting social cohesion.

9.Question
What does Jonathan Haidt mean by mentioning
Durkheim's concept of 'collective effervescence'?
Answer:Durkheim's concept of 'collective effervescence'
refers to the heightened emotional state that occurs when
individuals come together in shared rituals or experiences,
leading to feelings of unity and transcendence. It captures the
energy and excitement generated during collective
gatherings, which can enhance social bonds and foster a
sense of belonging within the group.

10.Question
What is the difference between the hive switch being
utilized in a healthy context versus a harmful one, such as
fascism?
Answer:The hive switch can be harnessed positively through

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communal activities that foster trust, cooperation, and joy
among individuals, leading to meaningful connections. In
contrast, when it becomes a tool for authoritarian regimes, as
seen in fascism, it can suppress individuality and promote
blind allegiance to a leader, harnessing collective energy for
destructive purposes rather than authentic communal
bonding.
Chapter 11 | Religion Is a Team Sport| Q&A
1.Question
What is the main function of rituals at college football
games, according to Haidt?
Answer:The main function of rituals at college
football games is to create a sense of community
among participants, akin to the functions of
religious rituals. This collective experience fosters
social bonding, elevating individuals from a profane
state to a sacred one, enhancing school spirit and
solidarity.

2.Question

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How does Haidt compare college football to religion?
Answer:Haidt compares college football to religion by
suggesting that both serve to unite individuals into a
community. The chants, cheers, and rituals in sports create a
collective emotional experience similar to religious practices
that foster group cohesion and identity.

3.Question
What are the three aspects of religiosity mentioned by
Haidt?
Answer:The three aspects of religiosity are believing, doing,
and belonging. This means that understanding religion
involves considering not just beliefs in the supernatural but
also the practices and the sense of community that comes
from being part of a religious group.

4.Question
How do the 'New Atheists' view religion, according to
Haidt?
Answer:The New Atheists view religion as a set of beliefs
about supernatural agents that can lead to harmful actions.

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They argue that religious beliefs are delusions that hinder
rational thought and are primarily responsible for societal
issues such as violence and terrorism.

5.Question
What is the Durkheimian model of religion proposed by
Haidt?
Answer:The Durkheimian model of religion proposed by
Haidt suggests that religions serve a crucial role in creating
moral communities that bind their members together through
shared beliefs and practices. Instead of focusing primarily on
individual beliefs, this model emphasizes the importance of
social cohesion and group survival.

6.Question
What role do gods play in social cohesion according to
Haidt?
Answer:According to Haidt, gods play a crucial role in social
cohesion by serving as focal points for community identity
and moral guidance. They motivate individuals to conform to
societal norms and foster trust among group members, which

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enhances cooperation and reduces selfish behavior.

7.Question
What evidence does Haidt provide regarding the
effectiveness of religious groups compared to secular
groups?
Answer:Haidt references research showing that religious
groups tend to have higher longevity and commitment levels
compared to secular groups. For example, studies indicate
that religious communes that demanded sacrifices from their
members were more likely to survive over time than secular
communes, highlighting the binding power of religious
commitment.

8.Question
How does Haidt define morality in the context of this
chapter?
Answer:Haidt defines morality as interlocking sets of values,
virtues, norms, practices, and institutions that work together
to regulate self-interest and facilitate cooperation within
societies. His definition emphasizes the functional role of
religious belief systems in promoting social order.

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9.Question
According to Haidt, what is a potential consequence of
societies losing their religious foundations?
Answer:Haidt warns that societies losing their religious
foundations may face increased rates of anomie, or
normlessness, leading to decreased happiness and higher
suicide rates as individuals navigate life without a shared
moral framework.

10.Question
What implications does the chapter suggest for
understanding political behaviors?
Answer:The implications suggest that understanding how
individuals bind themselves to political teams will require
examining the emotional and social dimensions of group
identity, similar to how religion binds communities. It
highlights how team membership can blind individuals to the
motives and values of opposing groups.
Chapter 12 | Can’t We All Disagree More
Constructively?| Q&A
1.Question

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What are the main challenges facing American politics
today?
Answer:The main challenges include increased
polarization, partisan animosity, and a lack of
constructive disagreement. The political class
behaves more like factions at war rather than a
cooperative body, leading to dysfunction in
governance and increased gridlock.

2.Question
How does partisanship affect personal relationships?
Answer:Partisanship creates significant barriers in personal
relationships, often avoiding political discussions altogether.
People are more likely to view those from opposing parties
as enemies rather than fellow citizens with different
viewpoints.

3.Question
What role does genetics play in political orientation?
Answer:Research indicates that genetics contributes
significantly to political attitudes, accounting for about a

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third to half of the variability among individuals. This means
that one's predispositions may favor liberal or conservative
orientations based on inherited traits.

4.Question
How do life narratives shape political identity?
Answer:Life narratives shape one's political identity by
influencing how individuals interpret their experiences and
moral beliefs. These narratives are personal stories that
people construct to make sense of their lives and can align
with broader political narratives.

5.Question
In what way do liberals and conservatives differ in their
moral frameworks?
Answer:Liberals typically emphasize values such as care and
fairness, focusing on protecting victims and promoting social
equality. Conservatives, on the other hand, place a higher
value on loyalty, authority, and sanctity, which emphasize
tradition, social order, and community.

6.Question
Why is understanding the opposing side's narrative

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important for constructive dialogue?
Answer:Understanding the opposing side’s narrative fosters
empathy and breaks down tribalism, allowing for more
respectful and productive discussions. It helps individuals
recognize the moral validity underlying differing beliefs,
contributing to a more civil political discourse.

7.Question
What steps can be taken to improve civil discourse in
politics?
Answer:To improve civil discourse, we need structural
changes in political institutions, such as how elections are
run and how districts are drawn. Encouraging personal
relationships between members of different parties can also
help reduce polarization and increase understanding.

8.Question
How can moral capital influence societal cooperation?
Answer:Moral capital enhances social cohesion and trust
within communities, promoting cooperation. High moral
capital contributes to a community's ability to regulate selfish

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behaviors and foster pro-social actions, which are critical for
a society's functioning.

9.Question
What is the danger of a purely Manichaean worldview in
politics?
Answer:A purely Manichaean worldview perceives
opponents as irredeemably evil, which inhibits compromise
and constructive dialogue. This perspective exacerbates
division, making bipartisan cooperation nearly impossible
and hindering effective governance.

10.Question
What can individuals do to bridge the political divide in
their communities?
Answer:Individuals can strive to engage in meaningful
conversations with those holding opposing views, seek
common ground, and practice empathy. Participating in
community dialogues and focusing on shared values can help
build understanding and cooperation.

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The Righteous Mind Quiz and Test
Check the Correct Answer on Bookey Website

Chapter 1 | Where Does Morality Come From?|

Quiz and Test
1.People's initial reactions to moral dilemmas are
solely based on individual reasoning and not
influenced by cultural context.
2.The chapter argues that morality originates entirely from
learned experiences, according to the empiricist
perspective.
3.The author suggests that emotions play a vital role in moral
reasoning and that moral understanding can differ across
cultures.
Chapter 2 | The Intuitive Dog and Its Rational Tail|
Quiz and Test
1.Haidt's model suggests that moral reasoning is
primarily driven by rational deliberation rather
than emotional intuition.
2.According to Haidt, empathy plays a crucial role in

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 changing minds in moral arguments.
3.Haidt believes that Hume's view was wrong and that reason
always precedes intuition in moral decision making.
Chapter 3 | Elephants Rule| Quiz and Test
1.Haidt argues that rational thought is the primary
driver of moral judgment, with emotions playing a
secondary role.
2.Babies show an early understanding of social morality,
preferring helping behaviors over harming behaviors.
3.Psychopaths can empathize with others' feelings, enabling
them to make moral judgments.

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Chapter 4 | Vote for Me (Here’s Why)| Quiz and Test
1.Haidt claims that reasoning is primarily used to
discover truth rather than justify pre-existing
beliefs.
2.According to Haidt, individuals' self-esteem is more greatly
influenced by social acceptance than their own self-image.
3.Haidt argues that the belief in rationality is a delusion and
that moral reasoning does not guarantee virtuous behavior.
Chapter 5 | Beyond WEIRD Morality| Quiz and Test
1.Haidt identifies individuals from Western,
educated, industrialized, rich, and democratic
(WEIRD) backgrounds as typical examples in
moral psychology.
2.The three moral ethics outlined by Haidt include autonomy,
community, and divinity.
3.Haidt’s experiences in India led him to reject the ethic of
community and embrace the ethic of autonomy.
Chapter 6 | Taste Buds of the Righteous Mind| Quiz
and Test

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1.Moral monism reduces morality to a single
principle, such as welfare or rights.
2.Jeremy Bentham's philosophy is critiqued for its excessive
emotional depth and empathy.
3.Moral Foundations Theory identifies five key moral
foundations that are purely culture-specific and have no
evolutionary basis.

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Chapter 7 | The Moral Foundations of Politics| Quiz
and Test
1.According to Jonathan Haidt, human behavior is
motivated solely by self-interest.
2.The Care foundation highlights the evolutionary
importance of caring for vulnerable offspring.
3.Liberals prioritize Loyalty and Authority foundations more
than conservatives according to Haidt's examination of
political motivations.
Chapter 8 | The Conservative Advantage| Quiz and
Test
1.Republicans have a monopoly on moral appeals
that encompass all five moral foundations,
whereas Democrats primarily focus on Care and
Fairness.
2.According to Haidt, liberals recognize all five moral
foundations equally while conservatives primarily focus on
Care and Fairness.
3.Haidt suggests that understanding moral differences is
crucial for Democrats seeking electoral success.

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Chapter 9 | Why Are We So Groupish?| Quiz and
Test
1.The chapter argues that human behavior is shaped
solely by selfish individualism and does not
consider group identity.
2.Emerging evidence supports the idea that group selection
plays a role in understanding morality despite some
criticisms.
3.Darwin's arguments against group selection emphasize that
less cooperative tribes are more successful than cohesive
tribes.

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Chapter 10 | The Hive Switch| Quiz and Test
1.The 'hive switch' allows individuals to transcend
self-interest and bond with others in group
settings.
2.Haidt argues that human nature consists only of elements
akin to chimpanzees, without any capacity for group
cohesion.
3.Experiences of awe, such as those described by Emerson
and Darwin, can trigger the hive switch and create a sense
of belonging to a larger whole.
Chapter 11 | Religion Is a Team Sport| Quiz and Test
1.College football events create a sense of
community similar to religious practices.
2.Many scientists fully understand the social aspects of
religion by focusing primarily on individual beliefs.
3.Religious practices evolve to enhance group cohesion and
provide benefits to communities through cultural evolution.
Chapter 12 | Can’t We All Disagree More
Constructively?| Quiz and Test

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1.American politics has seen a notable increase in
centrism and a decline in liberal and conservative
ideologies.
2.Genetic predispositions play a significant role in
influencing political affiliations according to psychological
research.
3.Liberal reforms aimed at improvement strengthen moral
capital by fostering cooperation and community.

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