Reply To: Dehumanizing others

“Self-determination fosters better morality by transforming external rules into internal values through a process called internalization, whereas indoctrinated thinking relies on external control and heteronomy (regulation by forces outside the self). In Self-Determination Theory (SDT), moral norms become truly moral only when they are fully endorsed by the self through intrinsic motivation, ensuring the individual acts from their own reasoned commitment rather than fear of punishment or social pressure”

The fulfillment of three basic psychological needs—autonomy, competence, and relatedness—facilitates this deep internalization, allowing individuals to integrate moral principles into their own identity. This autonomous moral motivation is more self-sustaining, less prone to depletion, and enables people to learn from moral mistakes without becoming defensive, unlike controlled motivation which stems from introjected pressures or external rewards.

There’s a very specific design to our creation and part of that is self determination. When we can be free to use self determination morality and moral principles are much more deeply embedded because right and wrong becomes more important to us because it alighns with deep internal values not external need for control.

If this is out true desighn, then G-d knows that and wouldn’t ask us to manipulate ourselves into believing things we don’t truly believe.