No. 75 Moral grandstanding, virtue signaling + outrage culture
In this episode, we’re talking about moral grandstanding — the tendency to use moral talk, social media posts, or public outrage to boost our own reputation rather than genuinely engage with a cause.
From pile-ons and one-upping to exaggerated emotional displays, the internet has created an environment where being seen as “morally right” can become its own form of status. But what does this do to our relationships, our mental health, and our ability to actually address real injustice?
This conversation explores the psychology behind moral grandstanding and how it shows up in current events like the Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni case.
We’ll get into:
What moral grandstanding actually is
The different types: piling on, ramping up, trumping up, and more
Holier-than-thou attitudes on social media
Why outrage can feel productive in times of powerlessness
How constant moral signaling leads to exhaustion and disconnection
Why we should condemn the behavior, not the person
A messy, nuanced conversation about morality, the internet, and how to stay grounded in public discourse.
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Listen to full episode :
Your prescription for living well, dose for this week: TMoral grandstanding — when we express moral outrage or activism partly to enhance our reputation, status, or identity rather than purely from genuine concern. Caring about issues isn’t the problem; the issue is performative or excessive displays of outrage that can create division, burnout + shallow engagement instead of meaningful change.
Social media amplifies this through cancel culture, outrage cycles + pressure to publicly signal your values. While sometimes rooted in real concern, constant outrage can dilute attention from serious injustices, fuel “holier-than-thou” attitudes + make conversations more polarized rather than productive.
Invite self-reflection, nuance + humility in — recognizing we all sometimes fall into moral grandstanding + that awareness can help us engage more thoughtfully with social issues + each other. 🦚
EPISODE RESOURCES >>>>>
Ep. 74 AI is not your friend or your enemy…it’s a computer
Grandstanding: The Use and Abuse of Moral Talk by Brandon Warmke + Justin Tosi
Moral grandstanding articles referenced:
Moral Grandstanding by Ethan Milne
The Challenge of Moral Grandstanding by Sandro Galea M.D.
The Inescapable Rise of Moral Superiority by Michelle Cyca
