In the last email I wrote about Moral Foundations Theory as a lens for viewing the Lincoln Project’s critiques of the President. These videos of Republicans attacking their leader are effective because they stress Trump’s violation of basic moral values that define conservative Republicans – respect for real authority, tribal loyalty and an appreciation for the sacred.
Another Values Theory1 advanced by social psychologist Shalom Schwartz deserves mention during this rare moment when America is grappling with our history of racial injustice. Schwartz maintains that there are 10 basic values, listed below, that can be distilled down to two fundamental questions:
How do I balance my own interests vs. the welfare of others?
What are the limits of my independence vs. my obligations of obedience?
More recent research2 by five political scientists from three countries presents this theory in a format useful for political practitioners. After years of testing, they confirmed that certain values scores predict voter opinions on everything from economic policy to foreign policy to race.
At this point in your reading you might ask, “How does this help me win an election?” Here’s my shorthand take on a very complicated subject.
Because most elections are left/right binary choices, the Schwartz model is helpful in framing messaging.
Not all 10 values have equal impact — one’s openness to change or desire for self-enhancement doesn’t drive voter opinion as much as concerns about self-transcendence or conservation of the status quo.
The circular model shown here is a great visual representation of the concept and useful in wordsmithing on a difficult topic.
The Schwartz Theory of Basic Values and Some Implications for Political Philosophy
We lack the space here to do the subject justice and offer this cheat sheet for considering the flow of public discourse and how we might direct these currents in the coming election season.
Openness to change
Self-Direction- Independent thought and action — choosing, creating, exploring.
Stimulation- Excitement, novelty and challenge in life.
Self-enhancement
Hedonism- Pleasure or sensuous gratification for oneself.
Achievement- Personal success through demonstrating competence according to social standards.
Power- Social status and prestige, control or dominance over people and resources.
Conservation
Security- Safety, harmony and stability of society, of relationships and of self.
Conformity- Restraint of actions, inclinations and impulses likely to upset or harm others and violate social expectations or norms.
Tradition- Respect, commitment and acceptance of the customs and ideas one’s culture or religion provides.
Self-transcendence
Benevolence- Preserving and enhancing the welfare of those with whom one is in frequent personal contact (the ‘in-group’).
Universalism- Understanding, appreciation, tolerance and protection of the welfare of all people and of nature.
1 Scwhartz. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology: 58: 878-891
2 Goren, etal. Journal of Political Behavior: 38:977-997
