veneer theory

English

Noun

veneer theory (uncountable)

1. (psychology, philosophy) The idea that morality is simply a cultural manner that hides man's innate amorality.
   • 2012, Caspar Henderson, The Book of Barely Imagined Beings, page 154:

     His [Maestripieri's] take-home message - that brute power politics is the root of, and the route to, success - looks like corroboration of 'veneer theory'