Pathologies of moral cognition

The saying "Nice guys finish last" captures the thought that moral cognition makes us vulnerable to
exploitation. This project will rigorously examine this hypothesis by investigating three particular aspects of
moral cognition which might lead us to form false beliefs or render us vulnerable to manipulation by others:
our beliefs about punishment, our tendency to identify with groups, and our willingness to trust others.
Empirical studies will extend our understanding of the circumstances in which moral behaviour can have
harmful side-effects. Theoretical inquiry will improve our ability to construct robust theories of cooperative
and punitive behaviour.