D114

Loyalty

BD08 Ethics & Values
Derived LayerMML-2

Version v1.2.4

Definition

A tendency to remain supportive of one’s group or partners through friction, rather than defecting at early discomfort or to gain advantage.

Poles

Each HES element is a spectrum, not a category: the Low and High poles describe how it presents at its two extremes, while the Reference marks the typical, everyday middle. The poles map variation across the range — neither end is inherently better or worse.

Low Pole

Defects quickly; switches sides when incentives shift.

High Pole

Sustains support and participation until core boundaries are violated.

Reference

Loyal under stability; wavers under strong losses or status pressure.

Measure

Primary: Stability — probability of continued support as the “cost of loyalty” increases.

Measuring Methods

Cost-of-loyalty scenario gradients + analysis of real episodes of conflict and commitment.

Empirical Anchor

Loyalty / organizational loyalty (Hirschman, 1970); relational loyalty; in-group loyalty moral foundation (Haidt & Graham, 2007).

Notes

Loyalty is not blind obedience and can conflict with honesty and fairness.

Citation

APA

Human Elements System. (2026). Loyalty (HES Passport D114, v1.2.4). hestable.com. https://hestable.com/passport/D114

BibTeX

@misc{hes_D114, author = {{Human Elements System}}, title = {{Loyalty}}, year = {2026}, note = {HES Passport D114, v1.2.4}, howpublished = {\url{https://hestable.com/passport/D114}} }