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Identity, morals, and taboos: beliefs as assets
1Princeton University, NBER, CEPR, CIFAR, and IZA Toulouse School of Economics.
The Quarterly Journal of Economics
|November 11, 2011
Summary
This study introduces a new identity-based model of moral behavior, explaining individual and collective actions by how people value their sense of self. It resolves puzzles in existing theories by showing how identity investments and social norms shape ethical choices.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral Economics
- Moral Psychology
- Social Identity Theory
Background:
- Existing models of moral behavior struggle to explain empirical observations.
- A unified theory is needed to account for individual and collective ethical decision-making.
Observation:
- People derive values from past choices, influencing their sense of self.
- Identity investments show non-monotonic responses to actions or threats.
- Taboos on thoughts emerge to safeguard beliefs about social assets.
Findings:
- Escalating commitment and treadmill effects occur with high identity endowments.
- Competing identities can lead to destructive outcomes.
- Social interactions foster norms of contribution, punishing free riders and do-gooders.
Implications:
- The model provides a novel framework for understanding moral behavior.
- It offers insights into the dynamics of social norms and identity.
- This research can inform interventions aimed at promoting prosocial behavior.
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