1. Mapping the Personal, Social, and Moral Domains: Implications for Tolerance Jen Wright, Jerry Cullum, Piper Grandjean, Jed Sawyer, & Ross Little Department of Psychology University of Wyoming

2. Overview Background –Diversity research –Haidt & Skitka –Domain theory Our research –Study 1 & 2: Tolerance for Different Attitudes/Beliefs –Study 3: Willingness to Interact with Dissimilar Others Implications Future directions

3. Background Diversity research is mixed –Some studies show exposure to diversity to be beneficial –Others find diversity to have harmful effects People’s reactions to diversity are mixed –People support basic rights to free speech –Want to deny that right to some groups

4. Haidt, Rosenberg, & Hom (2003) Reaction to diversity depends on two factors  Type of diversity  Context in which it is encountered People have strongest negative response –to moral diversity –in intimate contexts (e.g., roommates)

5. Skitka, Bauman, & Sargis (2005) When people have strong moral convictions –They are less tolerant of differences of opinion –They maintain more social distance from dissimilar others –They even sit farther away! This effect is not reducible to attitude strength – it is something unique to moral conviction itself.

6. Domain Theory (Turiel, 1983) Powerful theoretical framework for understanding these findings Social information is organized into three distinct cognitive domains: Personal Social Moral  Best thought of in terms of different “loci of authority”

7. Domain Theory (Turiel, 1983) Three distinct cognitive domains Personal  domain of autonomy (individual choice) –e.g. whether you like raspberry or strawberry jam Social  domain of social agreement –e.g. which side of the road we drive on, color of traffic lights Moral  domain of objective, universal standards –e.g. torturing innocent children for enjoyment

8. Our research Designed to assess people’s domain classification for a wide range of issues Tested whether domain classification predicted important interpersonal outcomes –Tolerance for different attitudes/beliefs –Willingness to interact with dissimilar others –Willingness to help dissimilar others

9. Study 1 Participants asked about 20 items Domain classification predicts tolerance –F(2,216) = 63.8, p<.001, η 2 =.37 Most tolerant of dissimilar personal beliefs (M = 3.82) Least tolerant of dissimilar moral beliefs (M = 2.53) Context predicts tolerance –Student condition: η 2 =.39, Professor condition: η 2 =.05 Most tolerant in remote contexts (e.g., university) Least tolerant in close contexts (e.g., roommate)

10. Personal –Tattoos/body piercing (94%) –Music preferences (93%) Social –Speed limit (87%) –Environmental preservation (81%) –Drinking age (84%) Moral –Cheating on an exam/paper (43%) –Domestic abuse (43%)

12. Study 2 Participants asked about 40 items Domain classification predicts tolerance –F(2, 118) = 120.1, p <.001, η 2 =.67 Most tolerant of dissimilar personal beliefs (M = 4.04) Least tolerant of dissimilar moral beliefs (M = 1.84) Context predicts tolerance –F(2,118) = 33.22, p <.001, η 2 =.36 Most tolerant in remote contexts (M = 3.24) Least tolerant in close contexts (M = 2.56)

13. Personal –Music preferences (98%) –Vegetarianism (98%) –Exercise (97%) Social –Speed limit (90%) a –Children going to school (90%) Moral –rape (90%) –Putting children with handicaps to death (77%) –Parents loving their children (75%) –Incest (74%)

15. Study 3 Domain classification predicts willingness to interact with dissimilar others –F(2,166) = 229.4, p<.001, η 2 =.73 Personal/social collapse together P (M = 4.94), S (M = 4.80), M (M= 3.27) Context predicts willingness to interact –F(2,166) = 109.8, p <.001, η 2 =.57 –Most willing to live in same town as (M = 4.96) –Least willing to date (M = 3.60)

16. Domain classification predicts willingness to help dissimilar others –F(2,166) = 104.0, p <.001, η 2 =.56 P (M = 5.13), S (M = 5.01), M (M= 3.96) Type of helping behavior matters –More willing to give change (M = 4.97) –than to deliver something across campus (M = 4.43)

18. Conclusions People view important social issues differently How they view them influences important interpersonal outcomes –Expressed tolerance for different attitudes/beliefs –Expressed willingness to interact with and/or help dissimilar others These effects are not reducible to political or religious orientation or attitude strength Domain classification itself is a strong predictor

19. Implications Tolerance is promoted by encouraging people to view an issue as personal –e.g., careers, sexual orientation, marriage Intolerance is promoted by encouraging people to view an issue as moral –e.g., domestic violence, genocide, environmental issues

20. Future directions Developmental studies –4 th graders through 12 th graders Direct behavioral measures Implications of different types of moral beliefs