Psychologist Benjamin Hilbig Considers These 5 Small Behaviors Define a Person Who Lacks Morality

Psychologist Benjamin Hilbig identifies five behaviors that indicate a lack of morality in individuals, including insensitivity and deceitfulness.

If we think we are masters at understanding others, some individuals can effectively mask their immoral behaviors. Here’s how to spot them.

Interacting with others and getting close to some of them sometimes gives the impression that we share the same value system. Because we firmly believe in our values, we think they represent the norm. However, some people do not share them. They also do not share your view of right and wrong, of what is just and unjust, and of what is moral or immoral. But, contrary to popular belief, amoral individuals are not necessarily unlikable. They can sometimes hide their true nature well enough that you don’t realize it right away. However, certain signs may lead you to doubt their sense of morality.

Lacking Morality: What Does It Mean?

Morality is inherent to the principle of good and evil. It is morality that conditions the rules of conduct practiced in a society. While these rules seem essential for maintaining society, some individuals appear to be foreign to them. This is particularly true for people suffering from antisocial personality disorder. This mental state is characterized by a consistent lack of consideration for right and wrong and an ignorance of the rights and feelings of others, as defined by the Mayo Clinic.

While a psychological disorder can lead to immoral behaviors, other factors can also contribute to them. In 2023, the study The Psychology of the Nature of Evil: Evaluating the Evil Within Us All revealed that negative childhood experiences and poor emotional regulation can also trigger behaviors that disregard the boundary between good and evil. Various experiences can encourage emotional manipulation, intentional behaviors aimed at hurting others, and a lack of empathy.

Signs That a Person Is Amoral

Among the behaviors that most clearly indicate immoral conduct, we often tend to cite a lack of empathy. However, a 2014 study published in the journal Perspectives on Psychological Science explained that the overly vague concept of empathy prevented a clear establishment of whether it was essential or invariably beneficial, although it is important.

In 2022, psychologist Benjamin Hilbig and his colleagues defined deviations from social norms in a study as reflecting traits known as “aversive personality.” This term refers to personality traits such as narcissism, psychopathy, and Machiavellianism. This type of personality is characterized by five behaviors to be spotted as soon as possible: insensitivity, deceitfulness, narcissistic self-satisfaction, sadism, and a desire for revenge, as listed by researchers in a 2021 study. These behaviors can manifest in the following signs: