Agent-based moral rhetoric simulation to reduce political polarization

Evan M. Williams () and Kathleen M. Carley ()
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Evan M. Williams: Carnegie Mellon University
Kathleen M. Carley: Carnegie Mellon University

Computational and Mathematical Organization Theory, 2025, vol. 31, issue 2, No 6, 194 pages

Abstract: Abstract Rising US polarization in recent years has negatively impacted many friend and family relationships. To determine the best moral strategies for facilitating cross-party communication, we create an agent-based simulation underpinned by Moral Foundations Theory to model small-group moral conversations where the majority of agents align with either liberal or conservative views. We find, contrary to what moral re-framing research has assumed, that loyalty may be the best moral foundation for facilitating cross-party communication. More research is needed to understand the depolarizing effects of moral arguments in group settings.

Keywords: Moral foundations theory; Simulation; Polarization; Agent-based modeling (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1007/s10588-025-09401-9

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