Political orientation, moral foundations, and COVID-19 social distancing

Abstract

During the COVID-19 pandemic, governments have advocated numerous social distancing measures, and compliance with these has likely saved millions of lives globally. In an online sample drawn from the U.S. and Canada (N = 209), participants completed measures of political orientation, moral foundations, and COVID-19 social distancing attitudes and behaviours. A more left-wing political orientation, and greater endorsement of the individualizing moral foundations were significantly related to more positive social distancing attitudes, and greater self-reported compliance with relevant restrictions. A more right-wing political orientation, and greater endorsement of the binding and economic liberty foundations were associated with less positive attitudes and reduced compliance. In a series of mediation analyses, the relationships between political orientation and various social distancing measures were significantly mediated by variations in participants’ moral foundations, particularly their endorsement of economic liberty and the individualizing foundations. Further data indicated that the perceived persuasiveness of messages based on each moral foundation advocating for continued social distancing was significantly related to both participants’ moral values and their political orientation. Findings are discussed in terms of understanding politicized differences around social distancing as partly reflecting differential valuation of the moral foundations, and in creating effective public health messaging regarding compliance.

Moral intuitions and vaccine hesitancy during the COVID‐19 pandemic

“…2012; Tarry et al. 2022), and in our study, we do not place it in either the broader individualizing or binding domain.…”

“…For those with strong individualizing moral intuitions, appeals to get vaccinated to reduce harm with a fair and equitable approach will be highly effective (Tarry et al. 2022). That is, campaigns that frame getting vaccinated as a social and/or civic responsibility to protect the vulnerable during a time of crisis will increase compliance in this moral community.…”

“…Moral foundations theorists have recently suggested the possibility of a sixth foundation, liberty/oppression, 1 with the concern on abuse of power (Graham et al 2013). This foundation has been validated and used in past studies examining the effect of moral intuitions on attitudes and behavior (Iyer et al 2012;Tarry et al 2022), and in our study, we do not place it in either the broader individualizing or binding domain.…”

“…(2021) similarly found that binding foundations were associated with attitudes justifying noncompliance with social distancing recommendations, again with a positive interaction if one was a Trump supporter, while the individualizing domain and a libertarian indicator had no significant association. Tarry et al (2022), in a study in Canada and the United States, found that a more left-wing political orientation and greater endorsement of the individualizing moral foundations were also significantly related to positive social distancing attitudes and compliance. Conversely, a more-right-wing political orientation and greater endorsement of the binding and liberty foundations were associated with less positive attitudes and compliance.…”

“…Tarry et al. (2022), in a study in Canada and the United States, found that a more left‐wing political orientation and greater endorsement of the individualizing moral foundations were also significantly related to positive social distancing attitudes and compliance. Conversely, a more‐right‐wing political orientation and greater endorsement of the binding and liberty foundations were associated with less positive attitudes and compliance.…”