The Justice and Responsibility League

Ethics and Morality

3 Reasons That Good Intentions May Lead to Bad Outcomes

Key Sun Ph.D. on June 4, 2024

Conformity to morality is often mistaken as a panacea for societal issues. Cognitions of reality represent the confounding variable responsible for moral attribution.

Conformity to morality is often mistaken as a panacea for societal issues. Cognitions of reality represent the confounding variable responsible for moral attribution.

Cognition

What Cognitive Rule Has the Power for Conflict Resolution?

Key Sun Ph.D. on November 15, 2023

Subjectively valid beliefs may be objectively invalid. All individuals operate as beings of developing awareness of reality with varying sagacity.

Subjectively valid beliefs may be objectively invalid. All individuals operate as beings of developing awareness of reality with varying sagacity.

Bullying

3 Features of Corporate Psychopaths’ Offensiveness

Key Sun Ph.D. on May 23, 2023

Corporate psychopaths' destruction involves the abuse of power to control and bully others.

Corporate psychopaths' destruction involves the abuse of power to control and bully others.

Motivation

Two Errors When Using Motivation to Explain Human Behavior

Key Sun Ph.D. on February 16, 2023

Why motivation is not a valid explanation for most human actions.

Why motivation is not a valid explanation for most human actions.

Education

Asking for Consent When Making Decisions May Reduce Interpersonal Misperceptions

Key Sun Ph.D. on October 18, 2022

Besides preventing potential harm to others in some procedures, the practice of asking for consent may help reduce misperceptions in human communication.

Besides preventing potential harm to others in some procedures, the practice of asking for consent may help reduce misperceptions in human communication.

Bias

Three Conceptual Problems With the Definitions of Racism

Key Sun Ph.D. on July 12, 2022

Although the term "racism" is often applied to explain a variety of intergroup conflict, it is subject to inconsistent, ambiguous, and sometimes conflicting interpretations.

Although the term "racism" is often applied to explain a variety of intergroup conflict, it is subject to inconsistent, ambiguous, and sometimes conflicting interpretations.

Law and Crime

How Offenders' Distorted Cognitions Cause Hate Crimes

Key Sun Ph.D. on March 9, 2022

Misunderstanding the legal description of hate crimes puts blame on the victims. Hate crimes derive from perpetrators’ distorted cognition and disinformation.

Misunderstanding the legal description of hate crimes puts blame on the victims. Hate crimes derive from perpetrators’ distorted cognition and disinformation.

Environment

Would Greta Thunberg Advocate Picking Up Trash in the Park?

Key Sun Ph.D. on October 30, 2021

The dominant view on climate change and who's responsible for it may be restricting our sense of the scope of the crisis, and its solution.

The dominant view on climate change and who's responsible for it may be restricting our sense of the scope of the crisis, and its solution.

Ethics and Morality

The Limits of Morality in Explaining and Solving Conflict

Key Sun Ph.D. on April 15, 2021

Although morality as a value-based rule is often used to explain and deal with human conflict and individual misconduct, its effects are mediated by an underlying cognitive factor.

Although morality as a value-based rule is often used to explain and deal with human conflict and individual misconduct, its effects are mediated by an underlying cognitive factor.

Coronavirus Disease 2019

Two Examples of Misreporting COVID-19 Cases in the U.S.

Key Sun Ph.D. on October 18, 2020

The United States has neither the highest mortality rate for COVID-19 nor the highest infection rate in the world, according to World Health Organization.

The United States has neither the highest mortality rate for COVID-19 nor the highest infection rate in the world, according to World Health Organization.

Psychopharmacology

Can Drugs Generate Mental Peace and Higher Consciousness?

Key Sun Ph.D. on October 3, 2020

Psychotropic medication, including magic mushrooms, is not a simple, quick, and easy panacea for mental health and interpersonal harmony. This post discusses the reasons.

Psychotropic medication, including magic mushrooms, is not a simple, quick, and easy panacea for mental health and interpersonal harmony. This post discusses the reasons.

Coronavirus Disease 2019

Does Geographic Residency Predict Risk of COVID-19?

Key Sun Ph.D. on May 2, 2020

The extended travel restriction between the U.S. and Canada will expire soon. The two arguments against lifting the restriction seem flawed.

The extended travel restriction between the U.S. and Canada will expire soon. The two arguments against lifting the restriction seem flawed.

Fear

Social Distancing and Paranoia About Human Interaction

Key Sun Ph.D. on April 15, 2020

Although social distancing has slowed the spread of the virus, its promotion is often accompanied by a message arousing unfounded fear of others.

Although social distancing has slowed the spread of the virus, its promotion is often accompanied by a message arousing unfounded fear of others.

Fear

Overcome Fear of Rejection With a Taoist Holistic Approach

Key Sun Ph.D. on February 26, 2020

Unreasonable fear results from misattributing the experience of frustration or invalidation in human interaction to the self’s deviance from some value-based standards.

Unreasonable fear results from misattributing the experience of frustration or invalidation in human interaction to the self’s deviance from some value-based standards.

Resilience

How We Elicit What Happens to Us

Key Sun Ph.D. on October 21, 2019

A bit of common advice for resilience involves: “It is not what happens to you, but...” This advice appears to only view the individuals as a receiver of adversity.

A bit of common advice for resilience involves: “It is not what happens to you, but...” This advice appears to only view the individuals as a receiver of adversity.

Anger

Why Are Some People Habitually Aggressive?

Key Sun Ph.D. on May 13, 2019

Instrumental aggression in human interaction appears ubiquitous. Why are some people habitually aggressive?

Instrumental aggression in human interaction appears ubiquitous. Why are some people habitually aggressive?

Happiness

Utilize Reality-Based Standard for Well-being and Happiness

Key Sun Ph.D. on March 10, 2019

Perfectionism research suggests a portion of people set standards. However, all people use standards to regulate their activities.

Perfectionism research suggests a portion of people set standards. However, all people use standards to regulate their activities.

Bias

False Information Contact Generates Cognitive Prejudice

Key Sun Ph.D. on November 5, 2018

False information contact may produce cognitive prejudice. Moral judgments of prejudice instances alone are insufficient for accurate knowledge about intergroup reality.

False information contact may produce cognitive prejudice. Moral judgments of prejudice instances alone are insufficient for accurate knowledge about intergroup reality.

Bias

Why Discussing Unpopular Views Is Intellectually Healthy

Key Sun Ph.D. on June 24, 2018

Recent protests have resulted in cancelling dozens of controversial talks on campuses. Research has shown two reasons that unpopular views need to be heard.

Recent protests have resulted in cancelling dozens of controversial talks on campuses. Research has shown two reasons that unpopular views need to be heard.

Intelligence

Increase Student Success by Reducing Academic Entitlement

Key Sun Ph.D. on February 18, 2018

One important issue impeding student success involves a personality or attitude variable called academic entitlement.

One important issue impeding student success involves a personality or attitude variable called academic entitlement.