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In a quiet village nestled between mountains, an old monk and a young farmer often crossed paths. The monk spent his days in prayer, seeking to align his soul with the divine, while the farmer toiled in the fields, ensuring his neighbors never went hungry. One evening, they sat together by the river, and the monk asked, “Why do you give so much to others when you could keep more for yourself?” The farmer smiled and replied, “Because I see the divine in every face I meet.” The monk paused, then said, “And I pray to know the divine so I may reflect its love to the world.” Both sat in silence, realizing they were climbing the same mountain—one on a path to heaven, the other through the hearts of people. 

Morality, as defined by Ellemers et al. (2019) and many others, as indicating what is the “right” and “wrong” way to behave. For example, it is moral to be fair to all people, not just to one group or to another. Morality is central to the human experience as it guides our decisions and shapes how we interact with the world.

Morality may stem from:

  • Religion: Divine commands or sacred texts.
  • Philosophy: Rational principles or humanist ethics.
  • Cultural Traditions: Norms passed down through generations.
  • Innate Human Empathy: An instinctive concern for the well-being of others.

What is vertical and horizontal morality?

Vertical morality focuses on and is rooted in the relationship that humans have with a higher power or divine authority, such as the Christian God or pagan gods. Vertical morality emphasizes adherence to divine commandments, principles or spiritual laws that original from a transcendent, or non-human source (think Moses and the 10 Commandments). Following religious doctrines or seeking personal spiritual growth with an internal sense of accountability to God, the universe, or higher ideal are all examples of vertical morality.

In contrast, horizontal morality emphasizes the relationships and ethical obligations between people (individuals) within a community or society, focusing on how actions affect others. Horizontal morality strives to create harmony, collective well-being, fairness, empathy, equity and mutual respect for each other.

Vertical Morality Horizontal Morality
Focus Relationship with God, the divine, or higher power. Relationships with others, community, and societal ethics.
Source of Morality Spiritual or religious teachings. Secular ethics, empathy, and human relationships.
Accountability To a transcendent authority or eternal values. To others within a community or society.
Motivation Faith, salvation, spiritual growth. Compassion, fairness, and collective harmony.

Different but Still Intersecting

Despite their differences, vertical and horizontal morality are not mutually exclusive. Many, if not most, traditions and beliefs integrate elements of both, recognizing that our spiritual beliefs often inform how we treat others and vice versa. For example:

  1. “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you”
    What is known as the golden rule bridges is found in almost every religion and spiritual belief system, and bridges vertical and horizontal morality by combining divine guidance with interpersonal care.
  2. Community and Worship
    Many religious practices involve communal worship or service to others, reflecting a blend of devotion to a higher power and responsibility toward fellow people.
  3. Ethical Alignment
    Both perspectives often value honesty, kindness, and integrity, showing that spiritual and interpersonal ethics can work in harmony to foster moral living.

Throwing a Study In

Author’s Cui et al. (2022) studied the impact on horizontal and vertical individualism (morality) and its effects on ethical/sustainable consumption, where the type of morality people felt they were most aligned with had an effect on their decision of purchasing ethical products and services. Even different morality styles and cultural value systems affect ethical consumption behavior!

Dark Side of Vertical Morality

  1. Moral Absolutism
    Rigid adherence to divine commandments or spiritual laws can lead to an unwillingness to adapt to new contexts or empathize with differing perspectives, leading to exclusion, judgment, or intolerance of those with differing beliefs.
  2. Religious Extremism
    In extreme cases, vertical morality can justify harmful actions (e.g., discrimination, violence) under the belief that they align with divine will.
  3. Neglect of Human Relationships
    Overemphasis on spiritual pursuits may cause individuals to overlook the needs and well-being of others, prioritizing personal salvation or spiritual growth over community welfare.
  4. Guilt and Fear-Based Motivation
    Vertical morality often relies on accountability to a higher power, which can lead to feelings of guilt, fear of punishment, or anxiety about falling short of divine expectations. This can contradict many belief systems to do good for the sake of doing good, rather than doing good for sake of keeping credit in case you do something wrong or bad later.

Dark Sides of Horizontal Morality

  1. Moral Relativism
    “Right” and “wrong” can become overly flexible or dependent on social trends as there is no real “transcendent” anchor (though whether that is truly needed or not is subjective.)
  2. Favoritism and In-Group Bias
    Horizontal morality may prioritize relationships within one’s immediate community or group, potentially fostering exclusion or neglect of those outside the group.
  3. Overreliance on Social Approval
    Decisions based on horizontal morality can sometimes be driven by a desire for validation or acceptance, rather than genuine concern for ethical behavior.
  4. Neglect of Higher Principles
    A lack of connection to transcendent values may limit the capacity for profound personal transformation or a sense of purpose beyond immediate human relationships.

Vertical and horizontal morality can both lead to self-righteousness and manipulation, either through controlling others in the name of “divine will” or manipulating relationships to maintain social dominance. Despite this, both frameworks invite us to reflect how we live with integrity and compassion.

References

Cui, G.-Q., Zeng, J.-Y., & Jin, C.-H. (2022). The impact of vertical/horizontal individualism and collectivism on ethical consumption. Sustainability, 14(21), 14254. https://doi.org/10.3390/su142114254

Ellemers, N., van der Toorn, J., Paunov, Y., & van Leeuwen, T. (2019). The Psychology of Morality: A Review and Analysis of Empirical Studies Published From 1940 Through 2017. Personality and social psychology review : an official journal of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, Inc23(4), 332–366. https://doi.org/10.1177/1088868318811759

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