Glossary / Lexicon

Deutsch: Angeborene Reinheit / Español: Pureza Innata / Português: Pureza Inata / Français: Pureté Innée / Italiano: Purezza Innata /

Innate purity refers to the idea that infants are born with an intuitive sense of right and wrong that is often misdirected by the demands and restrictions of society.

Innate purity is a concept in psychology that refers to the belief that individuals are born with an inherent goodness or purity, which can be corrupted or lost over time through negative experiences or exposure to negative influences.

Here are some examples of how the concept of innate purity can manifest in the psychology context:

1. Moral development: According to some theories of moral development, children begin with an innate sense of right and wrong, which is gradually shaped by their experiences and interactions with others. For example, Jean Piaget's theory of moral development suggests that children progress from a stage of moral realism, in which they believe that rules are fixed and unchangeable, to a stage of moral relativism, in which they recognize that rules are socially constructed and can be changed.

2. Implicit bias: Implicit bias refers to unconscious attitudes or stereotypes that can affect how people perceive and interact with others. Some research suggests that implicit bias may be influenced by a belief in innate purity, with people more likely to implicitly associate positive qualities with individuals they perceive as pure or innocent.

3. Mental health: The concept of innate purity can also be relevant to mental health, with some individuals believing that their negative experiences or struggles with mental health are a result of a loss of their innate goodness or purity. For example, individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) may feel a sense of shame or guilt about their intrusive thoughts or behaviors, and may believe that these thoughts or behaviors are evidence of a loss of their innate purity.

Overall, the concept of innate purity can have a range of implications for psychology, from theories of moral development to implicit biases to mental health. It highlights the importance of understanding how beliefs about innate goodness or purity can shape our perceptions and experiences of the world around us.