The role of bryophyte propagule banks in primary succession: case-study of an Antarctic fellfield soil

<p>Means, Standard Deviations and Zero-order Correlations (<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0166332#sec039" target="_blank">Study 7</a>).</p

Moralized Rationality: Relying on Logic and Evidence in the Formation and Evaluation of Belief Can Be Seen as a Moral Issue

<div><p>In the present article we demonstrate stable individual differences in the extent to which a reliance on logic and evidence in the formation and evaluation of beliefs is perceived as a moral virtue, and a reliance on less rational processes is perceived as a vice. We refer to this individual difference variable as moralized rationality. Eight studies are reported in which an instrument to measure individual differences in moralized rationality is validated. Results show that the Moralized Rationality Scale (MRS) is internally consistent, and captures something distinct from the personal importance people attach to being rational (Studies <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0166332#sec005" target="_blank">1</a>–<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0166332#sec013" target="_blank">3</a>). Furthermore, the MRS has high test-retest reliability (<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0166332#sec017" target="_blank">Study 4</a>), is conceptually distinct from frequently used measures of individual differences in moral values, and it is negatively related to common beliefs that are not supported by scientific evidence (<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0166332#sec021" target="_blank">Study 5</a>). We further demonstrate that the MRS predicts morally laden reactions, such as a desire for punishment, of people who rely on irrational (vs. rational) ways of forming and evaluating beliefs (Studies <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0166332#sec029" target="_blank">6</a> and <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0166332#sec039" target="_blank">7</a>). Finally, we show that the MRS uniquely predicts motivation to contribute to a charity that works to prevent the spread of irrational beliefs (<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0166332#sec047" target="_blank">Study 8</a>). We conclude that (1) there are stable individual differences in the extent to which people moralize a reliance on rationality in the formation and evaluation of beliefs, (2) that these individual differences do not reduce to the personal importance attached to rationality, and (3) that individual differences in moralized rationality have important motivational and interpersonal consequences.</p></div

Factor Loadings.

<p>Factor Loadings Based on an Exploratory Factor Analysis Using the Maximum Likelihood Method with Direct Oblimin Rotation of the Items of the Moralized Rationality and Importance of Rationality Scales (Data from Studies 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, and 8. <i>N</i> = 2452).</p

Moralized Rationality Scores.

<p>The Distribution of Scores on the MRS in Half Scale-point Intervals Compared to a Normal Distribution with the Same Mean and Standard Deviation (Combined Data from Studies 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, and 8).</p

Zero-order Correlations (Study 5).

<p>Zero-order Correlations (<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0166332#sec021" target="_blank">Study 5</a>).</p

Descriptive Statistics.

<p>Means, Standard Deviations, Reliabilities, and Correlations of the 9-item Moralized Rationality Scale and the 6-item Importance of Rationality Scale (Studies <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0166332#sec005" target="_blank">1</a>–<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0166332#sec039" target="_blank">7</a>).</p

Social Distancing.

<p>Social Distancing (vs. Social Approach) as a Function of Target Rationality and Moralized Rationality (<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0166332#sec029" target="_blank">Study 6</a>). Error Bars Represent Bootstrapped (Accelerated and Bias-corrected) 95% Confidence Intervals.</p

Blameworthiness.

<p>Perceived Blame (vs. Praise) Worthiness of the Target’s Actions as a Function of Target Rationality and Moralized Rationality (<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0166332#sec029" target="_blank">Study 6</a>). Error Bars Represent Bootstrapped (Accelerated and Bias-corrected) 95% Confidence Intervals.</p

Moral Emotions.

<p>Negative Moral Emotions Towards the Target as a Function of Target Rationality and Moralized Rationality (<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0166332#sec039" target="_blank">Study 7</a>). Error Bars Represent Bootstrapped (Accelerated and Bias-corrected) 95% Confidence Intervals.</p

Zero-order Correlations.

<p>Correlations of the 9-item Moralized Rationality Scale and the 6-item Importance of Rationality Scale with Each of the Moral Foundations.</p