Chapter 4: Moral Self-Regulation: licensing and Compensation

People navigate moral choices on a daily basis. A day's choice might begin when a coffee barista inadvertently returns too much change, continue with noticing (while comfortably seated) a senior citizen standing on the crowded bus at the beginning of the long ride to work, and escalate to being asked to stretch the truth to cover for a tardy colleague. Despite the diversity of circumstances such as these, past moral choice can affect current choices, which then influence future choices. For example, a customer who silently pockets the extra coffee change may subsequently be more inclined to give up his seat to the senior citizen; this altruistic act may later license lying for his late co-worker.