ABSTRACT
Moral ideals and behaviors of others may constitute a source of inspiration. They may help US decide on the 'right' course of action in ambiguous situations, and offer US guidance for self-improvement. On the other hand, having others around US who seem better able than we are in doing what is 'right' – or who claim their moral values to be superior to ours – can pose a threat to our self-views as a morally good and upright person. This chapter explores how to deal with the different concerns in our interactions with others; when to assume that others share the same moral values that we do and can be safely taken as an example for our own behaviour; and how to respond when the behavior or the moral values that other people endorse seem to challenge the validity of our own moral choices. Sharing the same moral values is an important basis for interpersonal trust.
