Kristen Monroe
Encyclopedia
Kristen Monroe is an American political scientist, specializing in political psychology
and the scientific study of ethics
. Her award winning work on altruism
is widely recognized as a classic analysis of human altruism and its political significance. She was also a significant figure in the Perestroika movement in Political Science. Her current work focuses on applying scientific ethics to current political problems, such as gender equality
and stem cell
research.
In 1996, Monroe published The Heart of Altruism: Perceptions of a Common Humanity, which won the 1997 Best Book Award in Political Psychology, given by the American Political Science Association
. It revealed the political significance and the psychological roots of altruism and focused attention on how political choices are constrained by identity, idealized cognitive model
s, and cognitive categorization. The Heart of Altruism was critical in illuminating the psychological roots of ethics and suggesting critical limitations in political theories - such as rational choice - that were based on self-interest. Monroe’s use of altruism as an analytical tool revealed significant limitations in political theories predicated on the assumption that human nature is innately self-interested. Her empirically-grounded critique resulted in effective challenges to scholars, such as Gary Becker
(Nobel laureate in Economics) and Richard Dawkins
(author of The Selfish Gene
), who—Monroe claimed—try to explain away altruism in order to protect disciplinary paradigms rooted in the principle of self-interest.
Later work – notably The Hand of Compassion: Portraits of Moral Choice during the Holocaust (Princeton 2004) – continued Monroe’s empirically-grounded analyses of political behavior. Recipient of The Robert Lane Award and Honorable Mention for the Giovanni Sartori Award, The Hand of Compassion created intricate cognitive portraits that illuminated identity’s
ability to shape and constrain political choice. It advanced Monroe’s view of how an altruistic perspective creates a feeling of moral salience, the psychological process that transforms generalized sentiments of concern for others’ suffering into an imperative to help.
Monroe’s work is credited with creating the microfoundations for the scientific study of ethics and for moral psychology as a field. Her work in empirical political theory, rational choice theory
, ethics
, and political psychology
also explores issues of ethics concerning gender, with a focus on gender equality within the Academy.
As the Founder and Director of UCI’s Ethics Center, and of the The International Society of Political Psychology’s Caucus of Concerned Scholars: Committee on Altruism and Ethics, Monroe has worked to coordinate international scholarship on the psychological forces driving moral choice
.
Monroe is the author or co-editor of 10 books and more than 50 journal articles or book chapters. She served as President of The International Society of Political Psychology (2007-8) and as the Vice President of both the American Political Science Association
and the Midwest Political Science Association.
Political psychology
Political psychology is an interdisciplinary academic field dedicated to understanding political science, politicians and political behavior. Psychological theories of behavior including; belief, motivation, conflict, perception, cognition, information processing, learning strategies, socialization...
and the scientific study of ethics
Ethics
Ethics, also known as moral philosophy, is a branch of philosophy that addresses questions about morality—that is, concepts such as good and evil, right and wrong, virtue and vice, justice and crime, etc.Major branches of ethics include:...
. Her award winning work on altruism
Altruism
Altruism is a concern for the welfare of others. It is a traditional virtue in many cultures, and a core aspect of various religious traditions, though the concept of 'others' toward whom concern should be directed can vary among cultures and religions. Altruism is the opposite of...
is widely recognized as a classic analysis of human altruism and its political significance. She was also a significant figure in the Perestroika movement in Political Science. Her current work focuses on applying scientific ethics to current political problems, such as gender equality
Gender equality
Gender equality is the goal of the equality of the genders, stemming from a belief in the injustice of myriad forms of gender inequality.- Concept :...
and stem cell
Stem cell
This article is about the cell type. For the medical therapy, see Stem Cell TreatmentsStem cells are biological cells found in all multicellular organisms, that can divide and differentiate into diverse specialized cell types and can self-renew to produce more stem cells...
research.
In 1996, Monroe published The Heart of Altruism: Perceptions of a Common Humanity, which won the 1997 Best Book Award in Political Psychology, given by the American Political Science Association
American Political Science Association
The American Political Science Association is a professional association of political science students and scholars in the United States. Founded in 1903, it publishes three academic journals...
. It revealed the political significance and the psychological roots of altruism and focused attention on how political choices are constrained by identity, idealized cognitive model
Idealized cognitive model
An Idealized Cognitive Model, ICM or Frame is the name given in cognitive linguistics to the mental representation known as "meaning". It is a mental construct which is recruited in a Mental Space as we think and speak...
s, and cognitive categorization. The Heart of Altruism was critical in illuminating the psychological roots of ethics and suggesting critical limitations in political theories - such as rational choice - that were based on self-interest. Monroe’s use of altruism as an analytical tool revealed significant limitations in political theories predicated on the assumption that human nature is innately self-interested. Her empirically-grounded critique resulted in effective challenges to scholars, such as Gary Becker
Gary Becker
Gary Stanley Becker is an American economist. He is a professor of economics, sociology at the University of Chicago and a professor at the Booth School of Business. He was awarded the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences in 1992, and received the United States' Presidential Medal of Freedom...
(Nobel laureate in Economics) and Richard Dawkins
Richard Dawkins
Clinton Richard Dawkins, FRS, FRSL , known as Richard Dawkins, is a British ethologist, evolutionary biologist and author...
(author of The Selfish Gene
The Selfish Gene
The Selfish Gene is a book on evolution by Richard Dawkins, published in 1976. It builds upon the principal theory of George C. Williams's first book Adaptation and Natural Selection. Dawkins coined the term "selfish gene" as a way of expressing the gene-centred view of evolution as opposed to the...
), who—Monroe claimed—try to explain away altruism in order to protect disciplinary paradigms rooted in the principle of self-interest.
Later work – notably The Hand of Compassion: Portraits of Moral Choice during the Holocaust (Princeton 2004) – continued Monroe’s empirically-grounded analyses of political behavior. Recipient of The Robert Lane Award and Honorable Mention for the Giovanni Sartori Award, The Hand of Compassion created intricate cognitive portraits that illuminated identity’s
Identity (social science)
Identity is a term used to describe a person's conception and expression of their individuality or group affiliations . The term is used more specifically in psychology and sociology, and is given a great deal of attention in social psychology...
ability to shape and constrain political choice. It advanced Monroe’s view of how an altruistic perspective creates a feeling of moral salience, the psychological process that transforms generalized sentiments of concern for others’ suffering into an imperative to help.
Monroe’s work is credited with creating the microfoundations for the scientific study of ethics and for moral psychology as a field. Her work in empirical political theory, rational choice theory
Rational choice theory
Rational choice theory, also known as choice theory or rational action theory, is a framework for understanding and often formally modeling social and economic behavior. It is the main theoretical paradigm in the currently-dominant school of microeconomics...
, ethics
Ethics
Ethics, also known as moral philosophy, is a branch of philosophy that addresses questions about morality—that is, concepts such as good and evil, right and wrong, virtue and vice, justice and crime, etc.Major branches of ethics include:...
, and political psychology
Political psychology
Political psychology is an interdisciplinary academic field dedicated to understanding political science, politicians and political behavior. Psychological theories of behavior including; belief, motivation, conflict, perception, cognition, information processing, learning strategies, socialization...
also explores issues of ethics concerning gender, with a focus on gender equality within the Academy.
As the Founder and Director of UCI’s Ethics Center, and of the The International Society of Political Psychology’s Caucus of Concerned Scholars: Committee on Altruism and Ethics, Monroe has worked to coordinate international scholarship on the psychological forces driving moral choice
Morality
Morality is the differentiation among intentions, decisions, and actions between those that are good and bad . A moral code is a system of morality and a moral is any one practice or teaching within a moral code...
.
Monroe is the author or co-editor of 10 books and more than 50 journal articles or book chapters. She served as President of The International Society of Political Psychology (2007-8) and as the Vice President of both the American Political Science Association
American Political Science Association
The American Political Science Association is a professional association of political science students and scholars in the United States. Founded in 1903, it publishes three academic journals...
and the Midwest Political Science Association.
Major works
- The Political Process and Economic Change (Editor). New York: Agathon Press, 1983. ISBN 087586063X
- The Economic Approach to Politics: A Critical Reassessment of the Theory of Rational Action. (Editor). New York: HarperCollins, 1991. ISBN 0673464261
- Political Economy and Political Psychology. (Editor) Special edition of POLITICAL PSYCHOLOGY. 16, 1 (March 1995).
- The Heart of Altruism: Perceptions of a Common Humanity. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1996. ISBN 0691058474
- Contemporary Empirical Political Theory. (Editor) Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, 1997. ISBN 0520207254
- Political Psychology (Editor). Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum, November 2002. ISBN 0805838864
- The Hand of Compassion: Portraits of Moral Choice during the Holocaust. 2004. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press. ISBN 0691118639
- Perestroika! The Raucous Revolution in Political Science. (Editor). New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 2005. ISBN 0300099819
- Fundamentals of the Stem Cell Debate: The Scientific, Religious, Ethical, and Political Issues. Co-edited with Ronald B. Miller and Jerome Tobis.) University of California Press, in press 2007. ISBN 0520252128