The Righteous Mind (English, Paperback) By Jonathan Haidt

The Righteous Mind by social psychologist Jonathan Haidt (Paperback, Vintage/Penguin, February 12, 2013; 528 pages) explains the psychological roots of moral beliefs and political divisions. Drawing on decades of empirical research, Haidt shows that moral judgments arise primarily from gut feelings—intuition comes first, while reasoning follows to justify those instincts. Through Moral Foundations Theory, he reveals six core moral values—care, fairness, loyalty, authority, sanctity, and liberty—and illustrates how different political ideologies prioritize these differently. He also explores the “hive switch”—our innate capacity for group allegiance—and urges readers to bridge social divides with empathy, humility, and better collective reasoning. A New York Times bestseller and widely acclaimed for its wisdom in understanding human nature.