Social psychological ingredients for a sociology of morality

Abstract

Issues of morality and social solidarity have been at the root of sociological thought since its inception (Hodgkiss 2013), though interest in these core issues diminished in the post-World War II period. The last decade or so have seen a renewed focus on these issues (Hitlin and Vaisey 2013; Smith 2003), including a Handbook of the Sociology of Morality (Hitlin and Vaisey 2010) and a number of prominent publications (e.g., Abend 2008; Abend 2011; Abend 2012; Black 2011; Fourcade and Healy 2007; Ignatow 2009; Lukes 2008; Stets and Carter 2012; Vaisey 2007; Vaisey 2009; Winchester 2008). The sociological resurgence in the topic follows on the heels of an increased focus on morality within psychology (Graham et al. 2011; Haidt 2001; Haidt 2008; Narvez 2010; Skitka and Bauman 2008) and neuroscience (Damasio 2003; Greene and Haidt 2002).