Public versus private morality is again in the news because of the extramarital affair committed by South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford.
DOUGLAS A. ABBOTT and CHRISTOPHER CURZON | Posted: Wednesday, July 8, 2009 12:00 am
Is there really such a thing as public vs. private morality? If you think so, then you probably believe that a person can act immorally in private life, yet retain ethical standards of conduct in public service.
Public versus private morality is again in the news because of the extramarital affair committed by South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford. He joins a long list of like-minded men, including Bill Clinton, John Edwards, Gavin Newsome and Eliot Spitzer.
We believe the whole notion of public versus private morality is a false belief. It has neither logic nor empirical evidence to support it. A man or a woman has a "general moral character" not two separate moral dispositions within the same psyche.
One's character flaws and vices don't act in one part of life and remain inactive in other aspects of life. A man who cheats on his wife is also more likely to steal time or resources at work and to lie about his golf score.
Committing adultery typically requires a series of lies and deceits in order to facilitate or cover up the affair. Clearly, Gov. Sanford had to lie to his wife, his staff and the citizens of South Carolina to maintain his illicit relationship. Moreover, he manipulated state resources and monies to promote his own self-serving interests, i.e., scheduling a trip to Argentina in addition to the state sponsored trip to Brazil, and then using state resources to pull off his latest trip to Argentina. In this case, private morality is on display in public behavior.
It seems to us that a person's moral character transcends time, place and situation. The man or woman who acts immorally in one situation is certainly more likely to act unethically in other situations. But on the other hand, if a man is honest, true and faithful in his marriage, he is more likely to be honest and faithful in his other tasks, duties and responsibilities.
Virtue is a cornerstone of character. If virtue cracks or crumbles all other character traits are vulnerable and at risk for compromise or concession. The adulterer, weakened by the loss of virtue, is more likely to commit other moral transgressions.
Thus, we believe there is no public and private morality. The idea is a fiction and an illusion promoted by some politicians, Christian evangelists, Hollywood stars and professional athletes to hide the obvious: immoral or unethical actions influence one's entire life.
Douglas A. Abbott is a developmental psychologist from Lincoln.
Christopher Curzon is a lawyer from Bennington.