Moralization, A Form Of Violence

Moralization is a form of psychological violence that often goes unnoticed. Imposing values ​​or principles, when they are shared, in many cases is an applauded action. Thus, sometimes aggressive and humiliating attitudes can be admired and defended.

There is a favorite pretext for those who turn to moralization: they do it for the good of the whole world. They want others to conform to certain values, even if the means they use are reprehensible. If the targets of the attack do not comply, they are often subjected to criticism, contempt, public denunciation and persecution.

Usually, the cycle of moralization begins with paternalistic attitudes. People selling advice with little information and no one is asking for them. They evaluate the other, as if there were a wand that had privileged their judgment. The most disconcerting thing is that these types of attitudes are very typical of those who are not exactly a role model. However, they usually hold a position or have a position that confirms the idea that they are better than others.

Moralization and submission

The main characteristic of moralization is that whoever wields it seeks to impose standards of conduct on others. The key word in the dynamics we describe is precisely that: impose. The person seeks that his axiological discourse, or of values, is adopted by others, for a simple and incontestable reason: “that is” the one that “should” be adopted.

Whoever wields this type of attitude believes that he is the bearer of a kind of moral superiority. Because he is a father or mother, or because he is a boss, a psychologist, a priest, or simply because he has more verbal ability than others. It is sometimes thought that holding these positions or positions gives a patent to influence the behavior of others. It is not like this.

Morality and ethics , when they are authentic, must have the help of reflection and conviction. They are not adopted out of pressure, nor are they practiced out of fear or duress. It is true that during upbringing children need the guidance of their parents to constructively integrate into society and culture. However, there is a big difference between educating and moralizing. The first is aimed at creating awareness; the second, to control.

Violence associated with moralization

Moralization itself engenders a form of psychological violence. In principle, because it claims that the other is morally inferior. Those kinds of hierarchies are entirely contrived. Who can say that one human being is really morally superior to another? Is it absolutely certain that one is more ethically consistent than the other? Are the motivations and intentions that govern their behaviors completely clear?

There are few cases of religious leaders who have a double face. Of the politicians, we better not talk. The same goes for parents, teachers, etc. Even if these figures were fully consistent with what they proclaim, their first display of moral elevation would be the ability to respect the individuality and integrity of the other.

On the other hand, it must be seen that this type of behavior does not remain only in a discourse and in a proselytizing attitude. The usual thing is that they are accompanied by gestures of approval or disapproval. This already enters the field of manipulation, which also attacks the other.

Other features

Moralization is usually accompanied by other behaviors that speak of control and lack of respect. For example, it is usual for moralizers to feel entitled to interrogate or question the other. Where are you going? What are you going to do? Why did you do this or that? What are you hiding from me?

It is also common for them to speak in an imperative tone. “Do this”. They intend to command, because it is a way of building and ratifying their supposed superiority. In the same way, they usually give themselves the right to interpret the actions of the other: “You did it simply because it was more comfortable for you”, and so on.

The worst thing is that they also ridicule, belittle and try to reprimand those who do not think or behave like them. Its goal is to provoke feelings of shame and guilt. Not so much because they are genuinely concerned about the morale of others, but because they want their speech to become law and they the judges. However, true morality has nothing to do with this.