The Social Psychology of Morality

This incisive book defines and unpacks the concept of morality. Neil J. MacKinnon summarizes, compares and evaluates theories of morality from both psychological and sociological perspectives, which as separate disciplines are unable to capture the breadth and complexity of this topic.

The Social Psychology of Morality addresses key issues in the study of morality, including scientific research versus moral philosophy, the psychology of moral judgment, and the scope, locus and origin of morality. Chapters provide detailed insight into core principles including social intuitionist theory, dyadic morality theory, affect control theory and the social psychology of conscience. Informative and accessible, this book advocates for the field to recognise that morality exists at the social, interactional and individual levels of reality, as both subjectively internalized phenomena and objectively manifested behavior.

Approaching the concept of morality from a broad range of disciplinary perspectives, this book is an invaluable resource for students and academics specialising in the social psychology of morality, the sociology of morality and moral psychology. Its comprehensive literature review is also of benefit to those studying sociology and social policy and sociological theory.