title: Binding Moral Foundations and the Narrowing of Ideological Conflict to the Traditional Morality Domain.
abstract: Moral foundations theory (MFT) posits that binding moral foundations (purity, authority, and ingroup loyalty) are rooted in the need for groups to promote order and cohesion, and that they therefore underlie political conservatism. We present evidence that binding foundations (and the related construct of disgust sensitivity) are associated with lower levels of ideological polarization on political issues outside the domain of moral traditionalism. Consistent support for this hypothesis was obtained from three large American Internet-based samples and one large national sample of New Zealanders (combined N = 7,874). We suggest that when political issues do not have inherent relevance to moral traditionalism, binding foundations promote a small centrist shift away from ideologically prescribed positions, and that they do so out of desire for national uniformity and cohesion.
authors.affiliation: Yeshiva University, New York, NY, USA amalka@yu.edu.
authors.forename: Ariel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Malka
authors.affiliation: University of Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Danny
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Osborne
authors.affiliation: Colby College, Waterville, ME, USA.
authors.forename: Christopher J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Soto
authors.affiliation: University of Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Lara M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Greaves
authors.affiliation: University of Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Chris G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Sibley
authors.affiliation: University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA.
authors.forename: Yphtach
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lelkes
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001290:Attitude; D003220:Conflict, Psychological; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D009014:Morals; D009520:New Zealand; D011057:Politics; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: attitudes; disgust; moral foundations; political psychology