How prosocial is moral courage?

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Ethics
• Sociology

Background:

• Moral courage, defined as upholding moral beliefs under personal risk, is typically viewed as prosocial.
• However, the prosocial nature of moral courage is not always straightforward.

Purpose of the Study:

• To critically examine the complexity of prosociality within moral courage.
• To review literature highlighting aspects that challenge the inherent prosociality of moral courage.

Main Methods:

• Literature review focusing on two key aspects of moral courage.
• Analysis of how differing moral beliefs and confrontational tactics impact perceived prosociality.

Main Results:

• Prosociality in moral courage is often evident at a societal level but can be contested.
• Conflicts in moral beliefs and the confrontational nature of actions complicate its prosocial assessment.

Conclusions:

• Future research must consider the multifaceted nature of prosociality in moral courage.
• A nuanced understanding is crucial for comprehending the psychological underpinnings and societal contributions of moral courage.