Understanding Blue And Orange Morality

If aliens were to arrive on our planet, you might imagine that it would be difficult to understand their reasoning and intentions. What do they want? Are they friendly? You might find it difficult to understand why they were acting a certain way, or be unable to determine whether they were behaving positively or negatively. You might also imagine that their alien society uses a different set of norms or values. 

Blue and orange morality is a common storytelling trope that seeks to explore the boundaries of moral thinking. Here, we’ll dive into the world of blue and orange morality, including an explanation and some famous examples in film and literature. You will also find a guide to morals and moral ambiguity, plus what to do if you’re struggling with matters of morality and ethics. 

What is blue and orange morality?

Blue and orange morality refers to a concept used in storytelling that explores complex, unfamiliar morality systems that can be hard to understand or make sense of. This trope is used across different storytelling mediums such as literature, TV and movies, and video games. These peculiar systems of morality and ethics may serve as a foil to existing, commonly understood systems of morality that typically govern a society. 

Examples of blue and orange morality

Once you understand what blue and orange are, you may notice it is used as a storytelling device across many works of fiction. It is commonly found in sci-fi and fantasy genres, though examples can also be found in ancient myths and legends. 

The Addams Family

The famous Addams Family franchise is a classic example of blue and orange morality.  Each member of the family acts in bizarre, unpredictable ways; and though they embrace things that may seem gruesome and macabre, they are nonetheless a close and loving family.

The Mad Hatter

The Mad Hatter from Lewis Carol’s Alice in Wonderland features a number of characters governed by blue and orange morality. He behaves unpredictably and seems to be governed by an indistinct code of morals. He communicates in riddles, seemingly with no concern for normalcy. The Mad Hatter is also prone to mood swings and emotional outbursts and remains an enigma throughout the story.

Gods and goddesses

In myths, legends, and parables across cultures, gods and goddesses often exhibit blue and orange morality. They may be erratic and unpredictable in their actions, abiding by a moral code that may seem incomprehensible to humans. For example, Greek myths about Zeus often depict him acting on capricious whims and exacting violence and revenge upon other gods and mortals, while other times adhering to more traditional moral standards. 

What does morality mean?

Morality refers to a system of guiding virtues and standards that govern our behavior. We may derive our system of morals from family, culture, society, faith traditions, personal experiences, and philosophy. Though some social norms may differ between cultures, there are many aspects of morality that may be considered universal. Stealing, lying, and harming others are typically considered to be objectively wrong, for example, while honesty, kindness, and respect tend to be highly valued. 

Blue and orange morality for social cooperation

This universality of right and wrong may have evolved to help foster cooperation among individuals: without adhering to prosocial behavior, our ancestors would not have been able to survive. Thus, it can be helpful to think of morality as a way of navigating one’s life in a way that helps maintain social order, foster positive relationships, and ensure the well-being of individuals and the community as a whole. This may include a moral duty to oneself, one’s family, and one’s community. 

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How morals guide you

A well-defined set of morals can help guide you toward healthier relationships and positive behavior patterns. Just as blue and orange morality can make fictional characters behave unpredictably, a lack of consideration for right and wrong in your own life may invite chaos and confusion. Morals are effective decision-making frameworks that help us achieve desirable outcomes in difficult situations.

Decision-making

Morals often play a significant role in the decision-making process. Whether consciously or unconsciously, morals can affect priorities, motivations, and behaviors in profound ways. A strong code of morals, for example, may compel you to approach academic or professional endeavors with honesty, integrity, and goodwill towards others. Moral decision-making can help you avoid the consequences of illegal or unethical practices and make good long-term choices.

Interpersonal relationships

A strong moral code is critical for maintaining healthy relationships with family, friends, colleagues, and others in your community. Values like honesty, empathy, and respect can help you build trust with others, avoid conflict, and resolve disagreements amicably when they arise. Holding firm to your values ensures lasting bonds, limiting the likelihood that strained relationships affect well-being. 

Personal growth

A well-calibrated moral compass may be crucial to personal growth and fulfillment. Your morals can help you define your purpose, make decisions with confidence, and maintain resilience in the face of adversity. Because a strong sense of right and wrong makes it much easier to navigate relationships, you may benefit from a strong support system and social network. Your principles can also inspire you to contribute to good causes or spend your time in meaningful ways, which can be a source of fulfillment and contentment.

How do you address moral ambiguity?

Even with well-defined values, there may be times when you run into difficult moral scenarios. For example, you may face a situation where two of your deeply held values seem to be in conflict with each other or encounter a moral dilemma where there is no clear right or wrong answer. While these situations can be stressful, there are a few approaches that may help you make the right choice.

Reflect on core values

When facing a moral dilemma, it’s helpful to prioritize the values most important to you and forgive yourself for sacrificing some other moral element. For example, imagine you found yourself in a situation where you became aware of information that would cause a loved one great emotional distress but would not necessarily benefit them in any way. Though you may value honesty and transparency, you might decide that compassion is more important in this situation, and choose instead to prioritize your loved one’s well-being. 

Consider the context

Moral situations are often context-dependent, meaning an action that might typically be considered wrong could be morally right under some circumstances. For example, during times of adversity, there may be times when it is necessary to steal, hoard, or make difficult decisions that might deprive others of scarce resources. When faced with this type of moral dilemma, it can help to take into account the unique situation at hand and adapt your moral judgment accordingly.

Weigh the consequences

By their nature, dilemmas involve consequences, which means there might not always be a solution that is 100% desirable. To make an informed choice, weigh the consequences of each possible way forward, imagining long-term outcomes as well as immediate effects. Considering the consequences and the benefits of any given decision can offer valuable perspective. 

Seek different perspectives

Reaching out to a trustworthy person in your life can be another source of perspective. Consider talking to someone close to you to explain the situation, your thought processes, and the reasons you are feeling conflicted. They may be able to help you see the situation from another point of view, and sometimes talking things through with someone can help you better understand the situation.

Embrace uncertainty and reflection

While it may be admirable to hold yourself to a high ethical standard, understand that there may be some unwinnable situations that cause pain no matter what you do. After making a decision, take some time to reflect on how you managed the situation, remembering to practice self-compassion and forgiveness. Remember that decision-making is a skill, and as you grow and make difficult choices, you can gain wisdom and achieve personal growth.

Looking for moral guidance?

Connect with a therapist

Learning moral decision-making in therapy

If you struggle to understand how to make moral decisions, it may be worth discussing your thoughts with a therapist. As a neutral observer, they can help you learn to understand things from alternate perspectives. They can work with you to uncover potential flaws in your reasoning and learn valuable strategies for working through complex situations.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a common type of therapy for improving reasoning skills. It has been found to be effective for helping children and teens learn empathy and moral thinking, and may also benefit adults who wish to overcome patterns of immoral behavior.

Online therapy through a platform like BetterHelp may be particularly beneficial for this type of treatment. Online CBT is generally more affordable than in-person sessions and allows you to connect to therapy from anywhere with an internet connection. Additional features like in-platform journaling and optional group sessions also offer an added source of perspective and reflection, which can help you get the most out of your time in therapy.

Takeaway

The blue and orange morality trope is a fascinating storytelling device that contradicts commonly understood norms of morals and ethics, helping us examine our own morals more closely. Even in real life, however, you may experience morally ambiguous situations that necessitate difficult decisions. Through therapy, you can talk things through with your therapist and learn how to navigate such decisions more effectively. Connect with a CBT-trained therapist on BetterHelp to begin.