People can find their true selves outside moral pursuits

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Moral Philosophy
• Authenticity Research

Background:

• The concept of moral primacy suggests prioritizing moral pursuits for an authentic life.
• A tension exists between morality's constraints and its potential for self-discovery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate whether people consistently prioritize moral pursuits for authenticity.
• To explore how individuals balance moral and other life values in defining the true self.
• To examine the role of aesthetic pursuits in relation to authenticity.

Main Methods:

• Four preregistered studies with 2909 participants.
• Adaptation of personal change paradigms.
• Development of novel paradigms to assess true self judgments.
• Direct comparison of life paths emphasizing moral versus aesthetic excellence.

Main Results:

• People do not always adhere to moral primacy, often preferring value pluralism.
• Aesthetic pursuits are perceived as offering freedom from rules, potentially enhancing access to the true self.
• No difference in true self judgments after losing moral vs. aesthetic qualities.
• Aesthetic excellence is sometimes seen as superior to moral excellence for true self connection.

Conclusions:

• Individuals resolve the morality-authenticity tension through value pluralism.
• Aesthetic pursuits can be viewed as a pathway to authenticity, distinct from moral pursuits.
• Judgments of the true self are informed by a broader range of values beyond morality.