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£70.99

Breaking Shared Norms, the Moral Commitment Problem, and Moral Emotions

An Evolutionary Analysis
Lieven J. R. Pauwels, Ann De Buck

£70.99

This book presents an evolutionary model to address failures to cooperate. It explores how moral emotions like indignation and guilt help overcome selfish tendencies, combining evolutionary theory with criminology for fresh perspectives on rule-breaking.

This book presents an evolutionary-inspired model to address moral commitment problems or failures to cooperate. It explores how individuals can overcome psychologically selfish tendencies, focusing…
£70.99
£70.99
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This book presents an evolutionary-inspired model to address moral commitment problems or failures to cooperate. It explores how individuals can overcome psychologically selfish tendencies, focusing on the role of moral emotions and personal moral norms in promoting cooperation. The book examines key emotions, such as moral indignation and anticipated guilt, along with important precursors like empathy and altruistic tendencies.
A key contribution of this work is its evolutionary perspective on various violations, ranging from minor theft to the punishment of free riders, and how specific moral emotions influence decisions regarding rule-breaking. It combines evolutionary theorizing with insights from the social sciences, offering a genuine integrative perspective on cooperation and moral behavior. Additionally, the book provides a practical, hands-on approach for testing theories of moral decision-making through empirical research.
Concluding with detailed suggestions for future research and crime prevention, this book is an essential resource for anyone interested in the complex relationship between moral norms, antisocial behavior, and societal cooperation.

Lieven J. R. Pauwels is a Full Professor of Criminology at Ghent University (Belgium). Over the past 25 years, he has been actively involved in testing the leading theories of crime. He has authored over 200 peer-reviewed articles in major criminological journals and book chapters. He is the author of widely used textbooks (in Dutch) on topics such as biological anthropology for social scientists, biosocial and evolutionary criminology, the etiology of crime, statistics, applied statistical modeling, quantitative methods, and crime prevention. His research interests include the biosocial, developmental, and situational determinants of (anti)social behavioral strategies and the application of human sociobiology to (outgroup) aggression.

Ann De Buck is a post-doctoral researcher at Ghent University. She completed her doctoral thesis, titled Explaining Intentions to Steal. The roles of moral emotions and personal moral norms, under the supervision of Prof Dr Lieven Pauwels in 2023. Her research interests focus on interdisciplinary theory testing and the role of moral emotions in explaining antisocial behavioral decision-making. She has published articles in peer-reviewed journals, including Evolutionary Psychology, Victims & Offenders, Journal of Community Psychology, and European Journal on Criminal Policy and Research.

Hardback

  • ISBN: 1-0364-6476-8
  • ISBN13: 978-1-0364-6476-9
  • Date of Publication: 2026-02-05

Ebook

  • ISBN: 1-0364-6477-6
  • ISBN13: 978-1-0364-6477-6
  • Date of Publication: 2026-02-05

Subject Codes:

  • BIC: JKV, JMQ, PSAJ
  • BISAC: SOC004000, SOC002020, SOC026040, SOC002010, SOC024000, PSY053000
  • THEMA: JKV, JMQ, PSAJ
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