The Reputation vs. Remorse Filter
EthicsComments
Do you think that distinction matters if the result is that we still choose to do the right thing?
Consider professional ethics codes in medicine. A doctor might feel reputation guilt for a protocol breach that caused no harm, but that guilt ensures they follow the rules for the next patient.
What about the internalized observer... like if we've spent our whole lives being taught a value, does that voice in our head count as a reputation risk even if no one ever finds out?
You're describing the superego. The real gap is whether we can actually distinguish between a personal value and a deeply ingrained social expectation in a vacuum.
doesn't work for people with high levels of shame since the 'secret' is the source of the weight.
This aligns with the concept of social desirability bias in psychological research. People often report behaviors that align with social norms rather than their actual values to avoid negative perception.