Download This PaperThe Moral Stereotypes of Liberals and Conservatives: Exaggeration of Differences Across the Political Divide
26 Pages Posted: 22 Mar 2012
Date Written: January 1, 2011
Abstract
We investigated the moral stereotypes political liberals and conservatives have of themselves and each other. In reality, liberals endorse the individual-focused moral concerns of compassion and fairness more than conservatives do, and conservatives endorse the group-focused moral concerns of ingroup loyalty, respect for authorities and traditions, and physical/spiritual purity more than liberals do. 2,212 U.S. participants filled out the Moral Foundations Questionnaire with their own answers, or as a typical liberal or conservative would answer. Across the political spectrum, moral stereotypes about “typical” liberals and conservatives correctly reflected the direction of actual differences in foundation endorsement but exaggerated the magnitude of these differences. Contrary to common theories of stereotyping, the moral stereotypes were not simple underestimations of the political outgroup’s morality. Both liberals and conservatives exaggerated the ideological extremity of moral concerns for the ingroup as well as the outgroup. Liberals were least accurate about both groups.
Keywords: ideology, morality, stereotypes, liberals, conservatives
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation
Jonathan Haidt
New York University (NYU) - Leonard N. Stern School of Business ( email )
NYU-Stern School of Business
44 West 4th Street
New York, NY NY 10012
United States