No Compromise: Political Consequences of Moralized Attitudes

Timothy J. Ryan

American Journal of Political Science, 2017, vol. 61, issue 2, 409-423

Abstract: Evolutionary, neuroscientific, and cognitive perspectives in psychology have converged on the idea that some attitudes are moralized—a distinctive characteristic. Moralized attitudes reorient behavior from maximizing gains to adhering to rules. Here, I examine a political consequence of this tendency. In three studies, I measure attitude moralization and examine how it relates to approval of political compromise. I find that moralized attitudes lead citizens to oppose compromises, punish compromising politicians, and forsake material gains. These patterns emerge on economic and noneconomic issues alike and identify a psychological phenomenon that contributes to intractable political disputes.

Date: 2017
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https://doi.org/10.1111/ajps.12248

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:wly:amposc:v:61:y:2017:i:2:p:409-423

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