Abstract：
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).
摘要：
在结构极化和动态环境中，比如美国2020年总统选举，个人对特定主题的态度的道德化(例如，气候政策)可能会危险地将群体之间的分歧升级为零和冲突。然而,关于影响个人随着时间的推移倾向于道德化他们的态度的因素，知识有限，结构极化在这个心理过程中的作用是什么。我们的目标是在美国2020年总统大选的极化背景下，测试一个理论上的综合模型，即何时以及如何感知极化与态度道德化随时间的变化相关，并探索互惠反馈循环，以了解极化与道德化之间随时间的动态关系。我们的模型预测，当反复面对新闻中的群体表情时，个人对两极分化的看法将通过加强他们对这些表达的价值保护反应来预测人内态度随着时间的推移道德化(即，感知二元伤害并体验对群体的负面道德情绪)。为了测试我们的模型，我们进行了四波，在拜登支持者（N=1,236）和特朗普支持者（N=617）之间进行了4个月的纵向研究。个人内部分析的结果通常支持模型在样本和各种态度主题中的假设。此外，交叉滞后结构方程模型探索相互影响，随着时间的推移，揭示了结构极化和态度道德化之间的正反馈回路。因此，我们的发现表明，随着时间的推移，感知的两极分化会增强态度道德化（反之亦然），这是一个动态过程，有助于解释在强烈的两极分化期间，群体之间的非道德化冲突如何演变成零和冲突。（PsycInfo数据库记录（c）2024APA，保留所有权利)。
