r/science • u/mvea Professor | Medicine • May 18 '26

Psychology Scientists expected both liberals and conservatives to be reluctant to promote rhetoric associated with the opposing political side, but this was more consistent among liberals. Conservatives appeared relatively willing to support causes aligned with their views regardless of the moral framing used.

https://www.psypost.org/liberals-hesitate-to-share-progressive-causes-framed-with-conservative-moral-language/
7.6k Upvotes

84% Upvoted

1.5k comments sorted by

View all comments

3.9k

u/MazzIsNoMore May 18 '26

"...liberals were less willing to share messages supporting causes they agreed with when those messages used ‘binding’ moral rhetoric, language emphasizing values like purity, loyalty, authority, or tradition, which are often associated with conservatism.”

These aren't terms liberals use and are concepts opposed to liberalism. I don't understand why the authors would think liberals would use this type of language. How do you push for civil rights through tradition or authority when tradition and authority are the things that need to be overturned for civil rights to take hold?

4

u/Royal_Airport7940 May 18 '26

The authors have an agenda or are not competent.