Is Concept Creep a WEIRD Phenomenon? Cultural Influences on the Expansion of Harm in Japan

Haslam and Tse (2026) proposed that harm-related concepts have expanded in recent decades, partly due to the rise of harm-based morality in Western cultures. Inspired by their theory, this commentary examines concept creep in interdependent Japanese cultural contexts, where morality may be undergoing changes. By analyzing moral language in Japanese popular song lyrics from 1968 to 2015, we first demonstrate that while harm-based morality has increased in Japan, binding moral foundations (purity, ingroup, and authority) have persisted or increased. Consistent with the premise that rising harm-based morality underlies concept creep, we then show that this phenomenon has occurred in Japan, drawing on cases of harassment, depression, and trauma. Concurrently, we argue that interdependence and binding moral foundations may influence the extent to which and how harm-related concepts expand. These observations suggest that while concept creep is not exclusive to Western cultures, it is shaped by sociocultural contexts.