Moral absolutism drives support for bans more than ideology

Conservatives support bans more due to moral absolutism, not just ideology.

Why it matters

  • Moral absolutism predicts support for bans better than political ideology.
  • Conservatives tend to see morality as universal and absolute, while liberals see it as relative.

By the numbers

  • Studies involved millions of tweets and nearly 100,000 people across 59 countries.
  • Nine studies conducted to explore the link between moral philosophy and support for bans.

The big picture

  • Moral philosophy shapes political attitudes more than ideology alone.
  • Understanding this difference can help bridge divides in polarized societies.

What they're saying

  • Some comments criticize conservatives for selective moral absolutism.
  • Others note that clear moral rules feel safer to enforce.

Caveats

  • Study focused mainly on liberal-conservative divide, not other political ideologies.
  • Research does not argue that one moral philosophy is better than the other.

What’s next

  • Future research could explore how moral absolutism aligns with other ideological dimensions.
  • Understanding moral outlooks can help improve communication across divides.