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

Morality is centered within the person-someone who experiences herself at the center of life, she is called upon to live in a way that is "good." She does this in partnership with others in groups with systems of shared beliefs, values, and practices that require conformance. Yet, even the most conforming groups contain differing ideas and viewpoints. Such differences may strike us as dangerous and threatening, activating intolerance. If we encounter strong consensus within our group, we may feel emboldened to fight against the threat, an important corrective to the possibility of harmful beliefs, values, activities, or practices taking hold within the group. Unfortunately, consensus can be manipulated, most dangerously through our proclivity for "grouping" with others who are "like us," especially when this is narrowly defined by a particular issue. Issue-position grouping creates consensus, which can hypercharge intolerance with a moral mandate and encourage the villainization of those who disagree. And this has become more prevalent now that we have easy access to online spaces that cater to and encourage it. And though beyond the scope of this article to offer solutions, I highlight a few key insights that may help us protect against this trend.