Northeastern University psychologists Piercarlo Valdesolo and David DeSteno presented their study of moral hypocrisy in the August edition of Psychological Science. DeSteno and Valdesolo report that while most people would like to believe their moral decisions are based on objective principles, the opposite is true. People harshly judge others on transgressions for which they regularly forgive not only themselves but other members of their social groups.

DeSteno and Valdesolo conducted a study in which 88 percent of the subjects acted unfairly, both in their own deeds and in their criticisms of others not identified as socially similar to themselves. Notes Valdesolo, "The mind is inherently social, and left unchecked, it will bias judgment in the service of ourselves and those like us." DeSteno adds, "Recognizing this bias is the first step in working to remediate its potentially damaging influence on intergroup relations."