Why Walter White Decided to Let Jane Die?

Exploring Breaking Bad's Moral Psychology and Trolly Delimma: The Difference Between Killing and Letting Die

Safa Rubaye, MD
November 07, 2024

The Trolley Dilemma and Moral Inaction

In moral psychology, this distinction is referred to as the omission bias. People tend to perceive harmful actions (commission) as more morally wrong than harmful inactions (omission), even when the outcomes are the same- killing someone vs taking a photo of someone dying without offering help. In Walter’s case, this cognitive bias allows him to downplay his guilt. He rationalizes that allowing Jane to die isn’t as morally reprehensible as directly killing her. This framing creates enough mental distance for him to carry on without the burden of feeling like a murderer, even though the outcome is identical.

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The Neuroscience of Action vs. Inaction

Walter’s decision to let Jane die activates two competing brain networks: one responsible for empathy and moral emotions and another for calculated reasoning and self-preservation.

Empathy and the Ventromedial Prefrontal Cortex (vmPFC):
In situations involving moral dilemmas, the vmPFC is the region of the brain responsible for processing emotional responses like guilt, compassion, and empathy. In this scene, as Walter watches Jane suffocate, the vmPFC would have been engaged, pushing him toward empathy—urging him to act to save her life. This part of the brain has a role iin recognizing the suffering of others and feeling responsible for preventing harm.
Calculated Reasoning and the Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex (dlPFC):
On the other side, Walter’s dlPFC, the region associated with strategic thinking and long-term planning, likely took control. This part of the brain is responsible for goal-oriented reasoning, and in this case, it weighed the potential consequences of saving Jane—losing control over Jesse as his relationship with Jane was a threat. The dlPFC is also where we rationalize decisions, especially in morally ambiguous situations. Here, it likely suppressed the emotional response coming from the vmPFC, allowing Walter to justify his inaction as the more logical choice for his survival.

This ability to override emotional responses with cold logic is a milestone of Walter’s transformation into Heisenberg. His brain becomes more adept at suppressing guilt and empathy as he increasingly rationalizes his actions for what he perceives as the greater good—his survival and family protection.

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The Psychology of Justification: Cognitive Dissonance and Us vs. Them

Another concept to explore is cognitive dissonance—the mental discomfort that arises when one’s actions conflict with one's internal moral values. I do not doubt that Walter knows letting Jane die is morally wrong, but he resolves this tension through moral justification. He tells himself that saving Jane would have endangered everything he had worked for, and that her death was ultimately a result of her own choices. This reframing helps Walter manage the psychological discomfort of his decision, easing his guilt by distancing himself from causality (inaction), which leads us to moral disengagement.

Moral disengagement, where Walter mentally distances himself from Jane’s death by viewing it as the result of her addiction rather than his inaction. He likely frames her as part of the dangerous "them"—a group of people (like drug addicts and criminals) who threaten his survival. Meanwhile, Walter positions himself and his family as "us"—those who deserve protection, those whose well-being justifies extreme measures. In this us vs. them mentality, Jane’s death becomes acceptable because she is not part of the group Walter feels responsible for.

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Moral Drift: From Family Man to Heisenberg

Walter’s decision to let Jane die marks a significant moral shift from the man who once simply wanted to provide for his family. At the start, Walter’s moral compass was relatively intact. But, over time, his internal ethical boundaries have shifted dramatically. What might have once been unthinkable becomes possible and justifiable in his mind.

This progression mirrors the phenomenon of moral disengagement, where repeated exposure to immoral acts dulls the emotional and ethical response. For Walter, the boundaries of right and wrong have become increasingly blurred. The trolley dilemma—whether to pull the lever or let harm occur through inaction—has become just another practical calculation for him rather than a deeply troubling ethical question.

Conclusion: The Trolley Dilemma and Walter’s Justification

Walter White’s decision to let Jane die is a classic moral dilemma wrapped in the complexities of human psychology and neuroscience. His ability to justify inaction—to see it as distinct from murder—relies on the brain’s capacity to suppress empathy and rationalize immoral choices. In this moment, the dlPFC’s logical, long-term thinking overpowers the vmPFC’s emotional push toward compassion, allowing Walter to feel less guilty for Jane’s death. His framing of the situation as "letting" rather than "killing" mirrors the trolley dilemma, where inaction seems morally lighter than direct harm.

Recommended Books:

"The Trolley Problem: A Philosophical Conundrum" by Thomas Cathcart – A great introduction to the famous ethical dilemma and how it applies to real-life moral decisions.
"Mistakes Were Made (But Not by Me)" by Carol Tavris and Elliot Aronson – A deep dive into the psychology of self-justification and cognitive dissonance.
"Moral Tribes: Emotion, Reason, and the Gap Between Us and Them" by Joshua Greene – A fascinating look at how the brain handles moral dilemmas, such as the trolley problem, and how "us vs. them" thinking influences our ethical decisions.

^{The content on PSYCHEFLIX is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult a healthcare provider for diagnosis and treatment. Reliance on any information from this blog and newsletter is solely at your own risk.}

Why Walter White Decided to Let Jane Die?

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