CLAIMING THE MORAL HIGH GROUND DOESN'T NECESSARILY MAKE YOU GOOD

Subconscious processes in the brain can convince us we're being good, even when we're not

- DR DEAN BURNETT

Here's something that's surprisingly common: people who strongly espouse moral or noble ideals, but regularly use them to justify attacking and mistreating others - something which is surely neither moral nor noble.

Isn't this inconsistent? How can someone loudly insist they're a good person while behaving in ways that totally contradict this, without mentally shortcircuiting in some way? The answer is that there are many psychological and neurological processes that allow people to engage in this behaviour that, for want of a better label, we'll call 'virtue bullying'.

A lot of virtue bullying could be seen as virtual bullying, which is to say it's a lot easier online.

We've all seen Facebook posts that make some simple, morally solid claim, such as "Cancer is bad", or "I support victims of [latest disaster]", which are then followed by something like "Share if you agree. I bet 97 per cent of you won't." 

Such posts are basically saying, "I'm a good, moral person... and I'll manipulate you and malign your character until you agree." This isn't the behaviour of a good person.

But it's not internet-specific. Wanting to protect children is a good, moral aim, but consider all the books and shows banned or attacked in the US under the guise of protecting children.