A closer look
Completing a single virtuous action gives individuals a subconscious psychological license to subsequently behave in a highly selfish or prejudiced manner. Studies show that when people are given an opportunity to publicly demonstrate they are non-racist, eco-friendly, or charitable, they are immediately far more likely to make a morally questionable choice right afterward. The brain treats morality like a literal bank account, depositing good boy points that can instantly be spent on being an absolute terror to retail workers or cheating on a diet. This perfectly explains why the person who just enthusiastically bought organic, fair-trade coffee will immediately cut you off in the parking lot with absolutely zero remorse. Your psyche constantly negotiates with itself, proving that nobody is actually committed to being a fundamentally good person; we are all just trying to maintain the absolute bare minimum moral balance required to not feel like total garbage
