Morality and Antisocial Behaviour

Deontology

An ethical theory that emphasizes duties and rules, often focused on the moral obligation not to harm others.

Utilitarianism

An ethical theory that advocates for actions that maximize overall happiness or positive outcomes for the greatest number.

Personal Dilemmas

Moral dilemmas that involve direct personal action, such as pushing someone off a bridge.

Impersonal Dilemmas

Moral dilemmas that do not require direct personal involvement, such as pulling a lever in the trolley problem.

Medial Frontal Gyrus

A brain region associated with emotional processing and moral decision-making.

Lateral OFC

Lateral Orbitofrontal Cortex, involved in moral processing and feelings of guilt.

Amygdala

A brain structure that processes emotions and sends information for higher-order cognitive functions.

Urbach-Wiethe Disease

A rare genetic condition resulting in amygdala damage, affecting emotional processing and moral decision-making.

Foreign Language Effect

An immoral action presented in one’s native language is percieved as more wrong. A less harsh moral judgement is made when the dilemma is presented in a foreign language

Billinguals were more likely to make utalitarian decisions in personal dilemmas presented in their second language

How are social norms represented in the brain?

• ACC: detection and appraisal of social processes, representing social norms

• Medial frontal gyrus: inferences on social intentions, judgement between fair and selfish responses

Mentalising method brain areas

Affective: left temporal parietal junction

Cognitive: medial prefrontal cortex, bilalteral TPJ

Brain areas involved depending on the types of instructions given

• Explicit instructions to make a moral judgement: mPFC, precuneus, TPJ

• Implicit instructions: anterior dmPFC

Different brain areas involved whether the moral judgement involves oneself or another

• Self: left OFC, left TPJ → processing guilt and moral sensitivity

• Others: cognitive mentalising network, left OFC

Different brain areas involved whether the moral judgement involves someone proximal vs someone distal

• Proximal: left OFC

• Distal: mPFC, left TPJ

Right Insula

A brain region involved in fairness-related behavior and the appraisal of social information.

Affective Mentalising

The ability to understand others' emotions and feelings during moral judgment.

Cognitive Mentalising

The process of understanding others' thoughts and intentions.

ASPD

Antisocial Personality Disorder, characterized by persistent patterns of disregard for social norms and the rights of others.

Differences in the brain between ASPD and non ASPD

There are functional and structural impairments in the regions involved in moral decision making which predispose people to antisocial behaviours: anterior cingulate cortex, superior temporal gyrus, amygdala, insula, frontal regions

Phineas Gage

A historical case of a man who experienced significant personality changes after a brain injury, illustrating the role of the frontal lobes in emotion regulation.

Cortical Thickness

The measure of the thickness of the cerebral cortex, often assessed in studies of brain structure and function.

Cerebellum-Occipital Lobe Size Ratio

A proposed measure linked to potential criminal behavior.

How are moral decisions made?

We ask is it right for me personally, within the context of society, and are the consequences of doing the action better or worse than not doing it?

It is theorised that we use our moral emotions more than moral reasoning, and reasoning provides a justification for the decision once it has been reached