How Imagined Interaction Conflict-Linkage Theory Complements Social Intuitionist Theory in Terms of Moral Judgments

Abstract

Traditionally, research on moral reasoning has been based on the idea that moral judgments are based on reasoning and cognitive development. For example, Kohlberg's classic model of moral reasoning argues that morality develops with aging and experience in terms of preconventional, conventional, and postconventional beliefs. Conversely, Haidt's social intuitionist model offers a view in which moral judgments can be impetuous and driven primarily by intuition, not reason. This idea reflects the concept of moral dumbfounding, in which people maintain a moral judgment based on conditioning. A cognitive theory that explains the conditioning for moral dumbfounding is imagined interaction conflict-linkage theory. This theory explains how arguments are ruminated in the mind. People often remember episodes of disagreement, arguing, or fighting and dwell on them. This chapter will review research in these areas. Additionally, a few examples pertaining to personality and ideological beliefs in terms of COVID-19 pandemic compliance and rule violations are discussed.