Types of Moral Principles and Examples of Each

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsHistoryTypesExamplesAdherenceImpactDevelopmentPitfalls

Table of ContentsView All

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Table of Contents

History

Types

Examples

Adherence

Impact

Development

Pitfalls

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To better understand your moral principles or those of people in your life, it helps to know the different types of principles and examples of each. We also share their impact, how they develop, and their possible pitfalls. But first, let’s look at how moral principles came about.

History of Moral Principles

The history of moral principles dates back to Ancient Greece and Ancient China.Moral principles were important in these societies because they believed that to be successful, people needed a clear sense of right and wrong.

In the field of psychology, moral principles have been studied in the context of moral development. Psychologists seek to understand how children develop a sense of morality and how moral principles are applied in different contexts. For example, psychologistLawrence Kohlberg studied moral developmentin boys from different cultures.

In the contemporary world, moral principles still play an important role and are considered guidelines for living life successfully. As an example, honesty is considered a moral principle because it keeps relationships strong.

What Is Objective Morality?

Types of Moral Principles

There are two types of moral principles: absolute and relative.

Is It Ever Okay to Lie?

Morals Examples

Some examples of absolute moral principles include:

Examples of relative moral principles are:

How to Adhere to Moral Principles

There are many ways that a person might adhere to their moral principles: through thoughts and feelings, actions, or words. Below are some examples.

Impact of Moral Principles

Moral principles are important for society because they help people learnhow to get along and live well with each other. They teach us that all human beings deserve the same rights, which is why it’s not okay to discriminate against someone based on their ethnicity or race. People who follow moral principles also tend to have a better quality of life than those who don’t.

Moral principles can also impact an individual’s identity andsense of self-worth.For example, someone who is honest may feel that they are a good person because they follow the moral principle to be truthful at all times. For people with strong values about equality, it might make them feel better about themselves when they don’t discriminate against people who are different from them.

10 Types of Discrimination to Be Aware Of

Tips to Develop Good Moral Principles

There are various ways to develop moral principles that transcend culture, religion, and country. If you are just starting on your moral journey, you might consider exploring morals in various philosophical texts.

However, there are also many practical steps a person can take to develop good moral principles:

The Difference Between Morals and Ethics

Pitfalls of Moral Principles

There are some things that can go wrong when following moral principles. Below are some examples of how moral principles may not always guide you toward the best course of action.

First, it’s possible tomake judgments about othersbased on your personal values and not theirs. For example, if you think all women should dress conservatively because you believe dressing another way is immoral, you are passing judgment on others based on your own set of standards.

In addition, it can be hard to tell the difference between a moral principle andsomething that’s culturalor part of your upbringing. For example, you might believe women should defer to their husbands because in your culture everyone has traditionally agreed with this idea for generations; however, if you were born into a different country where people don’t think this way, you might not feel that it’s morally right.

Finally, sometimes people can use moral principles tojustify bad behaviorlike stealing or hurting others in some way. For example, if you steal because you believe it will help the poor, your thoughts could be twisted to say that stealing is okay.

Takeaways

In general, moral principles are beneficial both to society and the individual person. However, blindly following moral principles without considering their origin or using your judgment based on the situation can lead to issues.

4 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Puett M.Genealogies of gods, ghosts and humans: the capriciousness of the divine in early Greece and early China. In:Ancient Greece and China Compared.Park S.Cultural relativism vs. cultural absolutism.Cultura. 2021;18(2):75-91. doi:10.3726/CUL022021.0004Austin CL, Saylor R, Finley PJ.Moral distress in physicians and nurses: Impact on professional quality of life and turnover.Psych Trauma Theory Res Pract Policy. 2017;9(4):399-406. doi:10.1037/tra0000201Macko A.Contingencies of self-worth and the strength of deontological and utilitarian inclinations.J Soc Psychol. 2021;161(6):664-682. doi:10.1080/00224545.2020.1860882

4 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Puett M.Genealogies of gods, ghosts and humans: the capriciousness of the divine in early Greece and early China. In:Ancient Greece and China Compared.Park S.Cultural relativism vs. cultural absolutism.Cultura. 2021;18(2):75-91. doi:10.3726/CUL022021.0004Austin CL, Saylor R, Finley PJ.Moral distress in physicians and nurses: Impact on professional quality of life and turnover.Psych Trauma Theory Res Pract Policy. 2017;9(4):399-406. doi:10.1037/tra0000201Macko A.Contingencies of self-worth and the strength of deontological and utilitarian inclinations.J Soc Psychol. 2021;161(6):664-682. doi:10.1080/00224545.2020.1860882

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Puett M.Genealogies of gods, ghosts and humans: the capriciousness of the divine in early Greece and early China. In:Ancient Greece and China Compared.Park S.Cultural relativism vs. cultural absolutism.Cultura. 2021;18(2):75-91. doi:10.3726/CUL022021.0004Austin CL, Saylor R, Finley PJ.Moral distress in physicians and nurses: Impact on professional quality of life and turnover.Psych Trauma Theory Res Pract Policy. 2017;9(4):399-406. doi:10.1037/tra0000201Macko A.Contingencies of self-worth and the strength of deontological and utilitarian inclinations.J Soc Psychol. 2021;161(6):664-682. doi:10.1080/00224545.2020.1860882

Puett M.Genealogies of gods, ghosts and humans: the capriciousness of the divine in early Greece and early China. In:Ancient Greece and China Compared.

Park S.Cultural relativism vs. cultural absolutism.Cultura. 2021;18(2):75-91. doi:10.3726/CUL022021.0004

Austin CL, Saylor R, Finley PJ.Moral distress in physicians and nurses: Impact on professional quality of life and turnover.Psych Trauma Theory Res Pract Policy. 2017;9(4):399-406. doi:10.1037/tra0000201

Macko A.Contingencies of self-worth and the strength of deontological and utilitarian inclinations.J Soc Psychol. 2021;161(6):664-682. doi:10.1080/00224545.2020.1860882

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