Moral Foundations Predict Perceptions of Moral Permissibility of COVID-19 Public Health Guideline Violations in United States University Students

Abstract

In the United States, the COVID-19 pandemic has become highly politicized and highly moralized. The current study explored whether participants’ (N = 118) endorsements of binding (promoting group cohesion) versus individualizing (promoting care for individuals) moral foundations explained partisan differences in views and behaviors regarding COVID-19. Participants completed the Moral Foundations Questionnaire before they indicated how morally permissible they thought it was to violate COVID-19 mandates, report others’ violations, or not get vaccinated. Additionally, they indicated their own prevention behaviors. Results show that endorsement of both individualizing and binding foundations explain partisan differences in moral permissibility ratings. Political conservatism predicted greater endorsement of binding foundations which in turn predicted seeing COVID-19 violations and not getting vaccinated as more morally permissible, and predicted fewer self-reported prevention behaviors. Endorsement of individualizing foundations predicted seeing violations as less morally permissible and reporting others’ violations as more morally permissible.

What is important for you makes you think about the pandemic differently: moral foundations, pandemic-related fears and convictions ( Lo que cada uno consideramos importante nos hace reflexionar sobre la pandemia de forma distinta: fundamentos morales, temores y convicciones sobre la pandemia )

“…What is more, the Anti-Individualizing cluster were inclined to assess the efficacy of preventive measures more negatively than the Individualizing cluster. Our findings are in line with the research results by Bruchmann and LaPierre (2022), which has shown that values characteristic for the Binding morality are related to a lower level of support for prevention measures such as hand washing, wearing masks and social distancing.…”

“…In line with our hypothesis (H4), we have found that people endorsing Individualizing values tended to assess the efficacy of COVID-19 preventive measures higher than people endorsing Binding values. Presumably, the Individualizing values are linked to perceiving serious violations of COVID-19 as less morally acceptable, possibly because severe violations of the COVID-19 guidelines could be viewed as harmful (Bruchmann & LaPierre, 2022) and probably also unfair to society and its members. Answering our second research question (RQ2), we found that people endorsing Binding moral values were inclined to assess all preventive measures (except for frequent disinfection of hands and surfaces) more negatively than the Individualizing and Generally Moral clusters.…”

“…Investigaciones previas revelaron la relación entre Pureza/ Integridad y la reticencia a vacunarse (Reimer et al, 2022). Probablemente la causa sea la creencia de que la vacuna podría profanar la integridad (pureza) física (Bruchmann & LaPierre, 2022). Nuestros resultados también sugieren que es más probable encontrar la sospecha de que las vacunas formen parte de un 'plan oculto' entre personas con fundamentos de tipo Aglutinante y menos probable entre quienes adoptan fundamentos de tipo Cuidado/Daño y Justicia/Reciprocidad.…”

“…Previous research has shown a link between Purity/Sanctity foundation and reluctance to vaccinate (Reimer et al, 2022). This is probably due to the belief that the vaccine would violate physical purity (Bruchmann & LaPierre, 2022). Our results suggest further that suspecting the vaccinations as a ‘hidden plan’ is more likely to be viewed in people supporting the Binding foundations, by and those who display Harm/Care and Fairness/Reciprocity foundations less likely.…”

“…Por lo que respecta a nuestra hipótesis (H4), observamos que las personas con valores Individualistas tendían a valorar más la eficacia de las medidas de prevención contra el COVID-19 que las personas con valores Aglutinantes. Supuestamente, los valores de tipo Individualista están vinculados a una percepción de las transgresiones graves en relación como el COVID-19 como más inaceptables moralmente, tal vez porque las transgresiones graves se consideran perjudiciales (Bruchmann & LaPierre, 2022) y posiblemente también injustas para la sociedad y sus miembros. En respuesta a nuestra segunda pregunta de investigación (RQ2), observamos que las personas con valores morales de tipo Aglutinante tendían a valorar las medidas de prevención (excepto la desinfección frecuente de manos y superficies) de forma más negativa que las personas con valores de tipo Individualista y Moral general.…”