Moral disengagement

Biological Parallel

Chimpanzees exhibit context-dependent morality: within the community, grooming, food-sharing, and coalition support define social norms. But during territorial patrols, the same individuals inflict lethal violence on neighboring communities without apparent hesitation. Gombe chimpanzees systematically killed all members of a splinter community through coordinated raids, then absorbed the territory—infanticide and targeted attacks that would trigger intervention if directed at in-group members are executed methodically against outsiders. Lions show similar patterns: pride members cooperate intensely, sharing kills and protecting cubs collectively, yet male coalitions invading new territories kill all resident cubs without hesitation to accelerate female receptivity. Wolves defend pack mates fiercely but kill lone wolves from rival packs on sight. Moral disengagement is coalition-boundary activation: behaviors prohibited within the group become permissible—or mandatory—when directed at outsiders. The mechanism isn't broken morality; it's morality functioning exactly as designed for coalition competition.