Social Justice and Social Order: Binding Moralities across the Political Spectrum

Two studies explored the relationship between political ideology and endorsement of a range of moral principles. Political liberals and conservatives did not differ on intrapersonal or interpersonal moralities, which require self-regulation. However differences emerged on collective moralities, which involve social regulation. Contrary to Moral Foundations Theory, both liberals and conservatives endorsed a group-focused binding morality, specifically Social Justice and Social Order respectively. Libertarians were the group without a binding morality. Although Social Justice and Social Order appear conflictual, analyses based on earlier cross-cultural work on societal tightness-looseness suggest that countries actually benefit in terms of economic success and societal well-being when these group-based moralities co-exist and serve as counterweights in social regulation

Tightness-Looseness and Global Growth Competitiveness Index (2003).

<p>Tightness-Looseness and Global Growth Competitiveness Index (2003).</p

Estimated Correlations between Latent Factors in MMM.

<p>Estimated Correlations between Latent Factors in MMM.</p

Tightness-Looseness and GDP per capita (2003).

<p>Tightness-Looseness and GDP per capita (2003).</p

Journal of Social and Political Psychology jspp.psychopen.eu | 2195-3325 Original Research Reports Parenting and Politics: Exploring Early Moral Bases of Political Orientation

Based on Lakoff’s (2002) Strict Father and Nurturant Parent metaphors for political conservatism and liberalism respectively, two studies explored parenting styles, political ideology, and the moral orientations that might link the two. Restrictive parenting (by both mother and father) predicted political conservatism, and this path was mediated by a strong Social Order orientation (Study 1) reflecting, more broadly, an inhibition-based proscriptive morality (Study 2). Political liberalism was associated with a Social Justice orientation, but was not predicted by nurturant parenting in either study. Study 1 included mothers ’ reports of their own parenting, and these were correlated with the students ’ responses. Findings support a restrictive moral underpinning for conservatism, but raise questions about the assumed unique association between parental nurturance and political liberalism, which is addressed in the discussion

Tightness-Looseness and Happiness (2014).

<p>Tightness-Looseness and Happiness (2014).</p

Model of Moral Motives.

<p>Model of Moral Motives.</p