All Episodes

April 30, 2025 29 mins

How Perceptions of Harm Drive Moral Outrage and Political Conflict


In episode 61, we explored Outraged! with Kurt Gray, discussing the harm-based model of morality and how our perceptions of harm and victimization fuel moral outrage. But there’s so much more to uncover.

In this episode, we take a deeper dive into the research behind these ideas with moral psychology researcher Sam Pratt. We examine the paper Morality in Our Mind and Across Cultures and Politics, unpacking how different moral perspectives shape political polarization, why people moralize certain issues differently, and the tension between moral relativism vs. universalism.

We also discuss how victimhood and morality interact—why some people strongly identify as victims in political and social conflicts, and how this influences the broader psychology of morality.

If you’ve ever wondered why people see the same events through completely different moral lenses, this episode is for you.

Text me your feedback and leave your contact info if you'd like a reply (this is a one-way text). Thanks, David

Support the show

Show Notes:
https://outrageoverload.net/

Follow me, David Beckemeyer, on Twitter @mrblog or email outrageoverload@gmail.com. Follow the show on Twitter @OutrageOverload or Instagram @OutrageOverload. We are also on Facebook /OutrageOverload.

HOTLINE: 925-552-7885

Got a Question, comment or just thoughts you'd like to share? Call the O2 hotline and leave a message and you could be featured in an upcoming episode

If you would like to help the show, you can contribute here. Tell everyone you know about the show. That’s the best way to support it.

Rate and Review the show on Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/OutrageOverload

Intro music and outro music by Michael Ramir C.

Many thanks to my co-editor and co-director, Austin Chen.

Mark as Played

Advertise With Us

Popular Podcasts

Stuff You Should Know
Dateline NBC

Dateline NBC

Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Special Summer Offer: Exclusively on Apple Podcasts, try our Dateline Premium subscription completely free for one month! With Dateline Premium, you get every episode ad-free plus exclusive bonus content.

On Purpose with Jay Shetty

On Purpose with Jay Shetty

I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!

Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc.