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Immoral behaviour following brain damage: A review.
Stefanie Roberts1, Julie D Henry2, Pascal Molenberghs3
1School of Psychological Sciences, Monash Institute of Cognitive and Clinical Neurosciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.
Journal of Neuropsychology
|April 18, 2018
Summary
Neuroscience reveals immoral behavior stems from three cognitive failures: impaired social understanding, poor behavioral control, or emotional deficits. These failures are linked to specific brain damage, offering a nuanced view of moral conduct.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Science
- Moral Psychology
Background:
- Immoral behavior is a persistent societal issue, encompassing a wide spectrum of actions.
- Understanding the neural underpinnings of moral decision-making and behavior is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the neuroscience of immoral behavior by examining clinical populations with altered moral conduct.
- To propose a cognitive framework for understanding the diverse causes of immoral behavior.
Main Methods:
- Review of clinical evidence from patients with behavioral-variant frontotemporal dementia.
- Analysis of data from individuals with acquired brain injuries affecting moral behavior.
Main Results:
- Immoral behavior arises from three distinct cognitive failures: impaired "theory of mind" (understanding others), executive dysfunction (behavioral control), and affective deficits (emotional regulation).
- Each cognitive failure is associated with damage to specific neural networks and brain regions.
Conclusions:
- A single cause for immoral behavior is unlikely; instead, it results from specific cognitive deficits.
- This tripartite model provides a more nuanced understanding of the neuroscience of immoral behavior in clinical and general populations.
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