Binary Intersection Theory of Human Motivation: The Independence of Moral Orientation from Cognitive-Social Awareness and Its Impact on Behavior
Year: 2026
Type: preprint
Abstract: This conceptual paper challenges the classical assumption linking cognitive maturity with prosocial behavior, proposing a novel theoretical model that radically decouples "moral orientation" from "cognitive-social awareness" as two functionally and biologically independent axes. The model is operationalized through a 2x2 binary intersection matrix generating four distinct behavioral phenotypes: the Wise Good, the Calculated Evil, the Reckless Good, and the Destructive Evil. Grounded in neuroanatomical evidence (prefrontal cortex vs. limbic/emotional circuits), self-monitoring theory, the Dark Triad framework, and temporal discounting models, this paper presents a comprehensive theoretical framework including the proposed Moral-Executive Cognitive Assessment (MECA) tool.
Author: Boukhodza, Mouhamad Zakaria
Language: English
Subfield: Cognitive Neuroscience
Field: Neuroscience
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7204120094
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