The psychological violence that lies behind the habit of moralizing often goes unnoticed. Thus, aggressive and humiliating attitudes can come to be admired and defended.
Last update: July 18, 2020
Making morals is a form of psychological violence with which one tries to impose a series of values ​​through disapproval and reproof. the goal is to generate feelings of guilt in others and not to build ethical principles.
The psychological violence that lies behind the habit of moralizing often goes unnoticed. Imposing values ​​or principles, when these are shared, is in many cases lauded. Thus, aggressive and humiliating attitudes can come to be admired and defended.
Those who resort to moralization do so with a very specific pretext: to do good to the world. Its purpose is for others to adapt to certain values, although it uses reprehensible methods to do so. If the recipients of the aggression do not obey, they often become the object of criticism, contempt, public denunciation and persecution.
"Whoever wears his morality as his best suit would be better off naked."
-Khalil Gibran-
In general, the cycle of moralization begins with paternalistic attitudes. People who sell quick tips without anyone asking them. They value each other as if their judgment is precious. The worst part is that these people are often anything but role models. However, they often occupy a role or position that confirms their belief that they are better than others.
Make the moral and submit
The main feature of moralization is to try to impose specific patterns of behavior on others. The key word in the dynamics described is only one: to impose. The person wants his or her axiological or value discourse to be adopted by others, for a single indisputable reason: it is the only one that can be adopted.
Those who employ such an attitude consider themselves morally superior. Because he is a father or a mother, because he is a leader, a psychologist, a priest or simply because he has more verbal skills than others. It is sometimes thought that holding senior positions grants the right to influence the conduct of others. It is not so.
Morals and ethics, when authentic, must be based on the flow of reflection and belief. They must not be imposed by pressure or by fear or compulsion. It is true that in childhood, children need the guidance of their parents to integrate constructively into society and culture. Nonetheless, there is a big difference between educating and moralizing. The first aims to create consciousness; the second to check.
Violence associated with moralization
Moralization is itself a form of psychological violence. First of all because it implies that the other is morally inferior, based on a hierarchy that is actually quite artificial. Who can determine if one human being is morally superior to another? How can we be completely certain that one person is more ethically consistent than the other? Are the motives and intentions on which his conduct is based entirely clear?
There are not a few cases of double-faced religious leaders, not to mention politicians. But the same can happen to parents or teachers. Even if these figures are fully aware of the values ​​they intend to disseminate, the first demonstration of moral superiority would lie in the ability to respect the individuality and integrity of others.
On the other hand, these attitudes are not limited to a proselytizing attitude. They are usually accompanied by gestures of approval or disapproval, leading to the field of manipulation and, therefore, of further aggression towards others.
Other characteristics
Moralization is usually accompanied by a series of attitudes that demonstrate a lack of respect and a desire for control. For example, it is easy for moralizers to feel entitled to question the other. Where do you go? What will you do? Why did you do this? What are you hiding from me?
They also easily use the imperative tone: "Do this." They try to lead to confirm their alleged superiority. Likewise, they tend to win the right to interpret the other person's actions: "You only did it because he suited you."
They come to ridicule, underestimate and scold those who do not behave like them. Their goal is to provoke feelings of guilt or shame. Not because they are really concerned for the morals of others, but for the desire to become judges of a thought that is law for all. True morality has nothing to do with any of this.
