"WEIRD" societies still value (even needless) self-control and self-sacrifice

Abstract

Some aspects of moral disciplining theory (MDT) - the association between cooperation and self-control; the notion that people and societies value sacrifice and costly prosocial behaviors - are well supported. However, other aspects of MDT - the association between religion/religiosity and cooperation; the notion that sacrifice and costly prosocial behaviors are no longer valued in "western, educated, industrialized, rich, and democratic" (WEIRD) societies - are inconsistent with existing evidence.