Witnessing in-group atrocities shifts moral priorities toward loyalty

Evidence

The second section dealt with a different, if related, mechanism: morality shifting. Building on theory and research on morality, in this research paradigm, we argue that when confronted with in-group atrocities, individuals shift the morality system. The principles of loyalty and authority come to the foreground, and those of harm and fairness recede to the background. Empirical research on this phenomenon is still in its infancy, and thus a lot about the mechanisms through which it comes about is matter of conjecture. But should it occur as we propose, this shifting would be enormously consequential for intergroup relations as well. The closing of the ranks and of the mind is a natural recipe for mistrust and the initiation of a spiral of conflict. — Roderick M. Kramer, Geoffrey J. Leonardelli, Robert W. Livingston, Social Cognition, Social Identity, and…, 2149

Categorization

• XREF: Directly parallels Haidt’s moral foundations theory and how group loyalty trumps care in identity threats. — connects to: Reconciliation demands rehumanizing perpetrators, which ingroup norms punish — Nyla R. Branscombe and Bertjan Doosje (eds.), Collective Guilt: International…, 2011; Reparations raise perpetrator groups’ moral standing and reduce intergroup tension — Nyla R. Branscombe and Bertjan Doosje (eds.), Collective Guilt: International…, 725
• SEED: Article angle: ‘the morality switcher’ - how groups flip their ethical operating system under threat, from harm-based to loyalty-based ethics.
• SHARE: Send to colleague working on moral psychology - this is the core finding of their paradigm and pairs well with tightness-looseness research.
• corroborated: 2 independent passages support this claim — Roderick M. Kramer, Geoffrey J. Leonardelli, Robert W. Livingston, Social Cognition, Social Identity, and…, 2149