Abstract

Psychological Inquiry, 23: 134–136, 2012 Copyright Taylor & Francis Group, LLC ISSN: 1047-840X print / 1532-7965 online DOI: 10.1080/1047840X.2012.667758 Is the Essence of Morality Mind Perception, Self-Regulation, Free Will, or Culture? Roy F. Baumeister and Andrew J. Vonasch Department of Psychology, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida Mind perception is the essence of morality, accord- individual self-interest and what is best for the group ing to Gray, Young, and Waytz (this issue). They pro- (e.g., Freud, 1930). Moral rules are often the counter- vide plenty of fascinating evidence that moral judg- weight to selfish impulses. Self-regulation is the essen- ments depend on the assumption of interacting minds. tial capacity to overcome selfishness to do what is best But distilling the essence of all morality into a single for the group. For example, recent work shows that formula seems likely to overreach. In this brief com- when people’s capacity for self-regulation has been mentary we seek to make the case for other components reduced by depletion of willpower, people become in- of the mythical essence of morality. creasingly willing to lie and cheat to get more money for themselves (Mead, Baumeister, Gino, Schweitzer, & Ariely, 2009). Hence, to leave self-regulation out