Within structurally polarized and dynamic contexts, such as the U.S. 2020 presidential elections, the moralization of individuals' attitudes on a specific topic (e.g., climate policy) can dangerously escalate disagreements between groups into zero-sum conflict. However, limited knowledge exists regarding the factors that influence individuals' tendency to moralize their attitudes over time, and what the role of structural polarization is in this psychological process. Our objective is to test a theoretically integrative model of when and how perceived polarization is related to attitude moralization over time within the polarized context of the U.S. 2020 presidential elections and explore reciprocal feedback loops to understand the dynamic relationship between polarization and moralization over time. Our model predicts that, when repeatedly faced with outgroup expressions in the news, individuals' perceptions of polarization will predict within-person attitude moralization over time via strengthening their value-protective responses to these expressions (i.e., perceiving dyadic harm and experiencing negative moral emotions toward the outgroup). To test our model, we conducted a four-wave, 4-month longitudinal study among Biden supporters (N = 1,236) and Trump supporters (N = 617). The results of the within-person analyses generally supported the model's hypotheses across both samples and various attitude topics. Furthermore, cross-lagged structural equation models explored reciprocal influences, revealing positive feedback loops between structural polarization and attitude moralization over time. Our findings thus indicate that perceived polarization strengthens attitude moralization (and vice versa) over time-a dynamic process that helps to explain how nonmoralized conflict between groups can evolve into zero-sum conflict during periods of intense polarization. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

中文翻译：

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感知极化如何预测态度道德化（反之亦然）：2020 年美国大选期间的四波纵向研究。


在结构两极分化和动态的背景下，例如 2020 年美国总统选举，个人对特定主题（例如气候政策）的态度道德化可能会将群体之间的分歧危险地升级为零和冲突。然而，对于随着时间的推移影响个人道德化态度倾向的因素，以及结构性极化在这一心理过程中的作用，人们的了解有限。我们的目标是在 2020 年美国总统选举的两极分化背景下测试感知极化何时以及如何与态度道德化相关的理论综合模型，并探索互惠反馈循环以了解极化与道德化之间随时间变化的动态关系。我们的模型预测，当反复面对新闻中的外群体表达时，个人对两极分化的看法将通过加强对这些表达的价值保护反应（即感知二元伤害和体验负面道德情绪）来预测个人内部态度道德化。朝向外群体）。为了测试我们的模型，我们对拜登支持者（N = 1,236）和特朗普支持者（N = 617）进行了四轮、为期 4 个月的纵向研究。内部分析的结果总体上支持模型在样本和各种态度主题上的假设。此外，交叉滞后的结构方程模型探索了相互影响，揭示了结构极化和态度道德化之间随时间的正反馈循环。 因此，我们的研究结果表明，随着时间的推移，感知到的两极分化会加强态度道德化（反之亦然）——这是一个动态过程，有助于解释群体之间的非道德化冲突如何在强烈两极分化期间演变成零和冲突。 （PsycInfo 数据库记录 (c) 2024 APA，保留所有权利）。