ambivalence

Sometimes perceiving the fine line between right and wrong is simply stemmed from what we believe or what social norms have made us believe. In Moral Minds, Hauser raised an interesting point.

Norms wouldn’t be norms if we could tamper with them, constantly questioning why they exist and why we have to follow them. Their effectiveness lies in their unconscious operation, and their power to create conformity. On the other hand, although social norms often exert an unconscious hand of control, we do sometimes violate them. When we do, or observe someone else in violation, our brains respond with a cascade of emotions, designed both to register the violation and to redress the imbalance caused.

Every culture offers a distinctive palette unique to its own people, including a few which may seem peculiar to others outside that circle. Norms serve as a safety net on which we can fall back and introduce order in an otherwise chaotic world, allowing our interactions to be sufficiently predictable as a result. However, it inevitably causes distress when one faces a situation that challenges these norms. Such circumstances are bound to arise and we find ourselves questioning what is really best for us, proceeding with what we think is right because occasionally the limits of norms may be put to a test.