Snipped from the MSNBC.MSN.com.

A “sense of moral superiority might lead to rationalizing bad behavior.” I guess that about sums it up for me. I don’t think I have much to add to that. This is a very interesting read though. Please take a moment to read over this study. It will just reenforce, in a very objective way, what you have thought about all the hypocrites that call themselves “conservatives”.

Here is a small portion of the article:

When asked to describe themselves, most people typically will rattle off a list of physical features and activities (for example, “I do yoga” or “I’m a paralegal”). But some people have what scientists call a moral identity, in which the answer to the question would include phrases like “I am honest” and “I am a caring person.”
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Past research has suggested that people who describe themselves with words such as honest and generous are also more likely to engage in volunteer work and other socially responsible acts.

But often in life, the line between right and wrong becomes blurry, particularly when it comes to cheating on a test or in the workplace. For example, somebody could rationalize cheating on a test as a way of achieving their dream of becoming a doctor and helping people.

In the new study, detailed in the November issue of the Journal of Applied Psychology, researchers find that when this line between right and wrong is ambiguous among people who think of themselves as having high moral standards, the do-gooders can become the worst of cheaters.