Politics and Punitiveness: The Mediating Role of Morality
Open Access
Author:
Castiglia, Craig Joseph
Area of Honors:
Crime, Law, and Justice
Degree:
Bachelor of Arts
Document Type:
Thesis
Thesis Supervisors:
Eric Silver, Thesis Supervisor Stacy Silver, Thesis Honors Advisor
Keywords:
political orientation morality moral foundations punitiveness harm fairness loyalty authority purity
Abstract:
This thesis examines the relationship between a) political orientation, b) morality, and c) punitiveness. While we often recognize these social factors as influencing decisions, this study closely investigates their interconnectedness as quantified variables. Specifically, the study evaluates the role that morality plays in mediating political orientation’s propensity for punishment. Results show that conservatives have stronger punitive attitudes than liberals. Additionally, the data indicate that conservatives and liberals differ in their moral foundations, with liberals demonstrating higher scores on harm and fairness, and conservatives demonstrating higher scores on loyalty, authority, and purity. Finally, the results show that the moral foundations of loyalty, authority, and purity partially mediate the relationship between political orientation and punitiveness, controlling for gender and race. Implications for future research and policy are discussed.
