It is complicated, but Moral Development theory does cover the phenomena of why some won't understand until they personally grow through the stages of development.
Reading up on it made me realize that a certain well known orange person is really on Stage 2 of moral development. That explains a lot.
But also gives hope. I mean, it’s rare that adults fail to advance from pre-conventional phases, so it must be super rare to have such a confluence of factors that puts someone like that in the given job.
Spies do tough work for not that much pay. (Certainly less than they can earn in the private sector.)
They’re starting from a position of duty. Given the stakes the questions they’re tasked with operate at, I’d guess they tend to be in the postconventional regime more than most people.
But also gives hope. I mean, it’s rare that adults fail to advance from pre-conventional phases, so it must be super rare to have such a confluence of factors that puts someone like that in the given job.