Why do I care? Effects of uncertainty and group threat on the endorsement of sacred values

Abstract

Sacred values are unique in that they are protected from trade-offs with other values and material incentives. This research investigates the proposal that sacred values arise at the intersection of cognitive factors and social dynamics. Personal uncertainty salience and perceptions of group threat were manipulated among Democrats and Republicans, and their effects on the endorsement of a range of values were observed. The two predictors had both interactive and main effects on the dependent variables, demonstrating the importance of context in understanding Democrats’ and Republicans’ positions on political and moral issues. These findings have important implications for creating circumstances that promote compromise.