Fleeson, W., Furr, R. et al. (2023).
Journal of Personality, 92(3), 715–734.
Abstract
Objective
What do people see as distinguishing the morally exceptional from others? To handle the problem that people may disagree about who qualifies as morally exceptional, we asked subjects to select and rate their own examples of morally exceptional, morally average, and immoral people.
Method
Subjects rated each selected exemplar on several enablers of moral action and several directions of moral action. By applying the logic underlying stimulus sampling in experimental design, we evaluated perceivers’ level of agreement about the characteristics of the morally exceptional, even though perceivers rated different targets.
Results
Across three studies, there was strong subjective consensus on who is morally exceptional: those who are empathetic and prone to guilt, those who reflect on moral issues and identify with morality, those who have self-control and actually enact moral behaviors, and those who care about harm, compassion, fairness, and honesty. Deep controversies also existed about the moral directions pursued by those seen as morally exceptional: People evaluated those who pursued similar values and made similar decisions more favorably.
Conclusion
Strong consensus suggests characteristics that may push a person to go beyond normal expectations, that the study of moral exceptionality is not overly hindered by disagreement over who is morally exceptional, and that there is some common ground between disagreeing camps.
The article is linked above.
Here are some thoughts:
The research explores the perception of morally exceptional individuals compared to those deemed typically moral or immoral, revealing a significant consensus on the characteristics that distinguish moral exceptionalism. Across three studies, participants identified that those considered morally exceptional possess traits such as empathy, self-control, and a strong moral identity, which enable them to act on their moral judgments. This consensus offers optimism for further research into moral exceptionalism, suggesting that despite widespread disagreement on specific moral issues, there is a shared understanding of the enablers of moral behavior.
The findings indicate that while there is agreement on the attributes of morally exceptional individuals, controversies arise regarding the moral judgments they make. Notably, individuals who share similar moral values with perceivers are more likely to be recognized as morally exceptional. This highlights a potential area for future research to explore these dynamics further.
The results also contribute to the understanding of moral pluralism, indicating that while there is consensus on the processes that characterize moral exceptionality, there remains considerable debate over the specific moral domains valued by these individuals. This suggests that moral exemplars may not exhibit unified virtue across all moral domains, prompting further investigation into how moral understanding can be enhanced through recognition of moral processes rather than solely focusing on moral content.
In summary, the research reveals a complex landscape of moral perception, where agreement exists on the enablers of moral action, yet significant differences persist in the moral judgments made by individuals. This duality presents opportunities for fostering dialogue and understanding across diverse moral perspectives.
