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Others Like Me: How Issue-Position Groups Distort the Function of Morality by Manufacturing Consensus.

Jennifer Cole Wright¹

¹Department of Psychology, College of Charleston, Charleston, South Carolina, USA.

Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences

|January 7, 2026

Summary

Moral psychology reveals that group consensus, while protective, can be manipulated. This manipulation, amplified by online spaces, fosters intolerance and villainizes differing viewpoints, threatening social cohesion.

Keywords:

issue‐position groups meta‐ethics morality non‐normative tolerance

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Area of Science:

Social Psychology
Moral Psychology
Sociology

Background:

Morality is inherently personal, yet enacted within groups sharing beliefs and values.
Group conformity is common, but internal differences of opinion also exist.
Disagreement can be perceived as a threat, potentially activating intolerance.

Purpose of the Study:

To explore how group consensus, particularly issue-position grouping, can be manipulated.
To examine the link between manipulated consensus, heightened intolerance, and the villainization of dissent.
To highlight the role of online spaces in exacerbating this trend.

Main Methods:

Conceptual analysis of moral psychology and group dynamics.
Examination of the mechanisms driving intolerance within groups.
Discussion of the influence of online environments on group formation and consensus.

Main Results:

Strong group consensus, especially when narrowly defined by issue-position, can be manipulated.
This manipulated consensus can create a moral mandate for intolerance.
Online spaces facilitate and amplify issue-position grouping, increasing the risk of villainizing dissent.

Conclusions:

While group consensus can serve as a social corrective, its manipulation poses a significant threat.
Issue-position grouping, amplified online, dangerously fuels intolerance and the demonization of differing views.
Understanding these dynamics is crucial for mitigating the negative impacts on social discourse.