Moral demands truly are externally imposed
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1Department of Experimental and Applied Psychology,Vrije Universiteit (VU) Amsterdam,1081 BT Amsterdam,The Netherlands;and The Netherlands Institute for the Study of Crime and Law Enforcement (NSCR),1008 BH Amsterdam,The Netherlands.j.w.van.prooijen@vu.nlhttp://www.janwillemvanprooijen.com.
Abstract:
Most moral demands indeed are externally imposed, as violations are subject to social condemnation. While in modern society objectified moral demands may serve as a cue for desirable interaction partners, human morality evolved in small tribes that offered little choice regarding with whom to cooperate. Instead, it was adaptive to objectify moral demands to avoid the costs of social exclusion.
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