A Liberal/Conservative "Heat-Map" of Moral Values
A MAP of MORAL VALUES may offer key insights into the minds of people you're speaking with..
[These charts are from the 2019 study, Ideological differences in the expanse of the moral circle.]
A “Heat Map” is a visualization of data points in color to allow a quick view of intensity and volume— hence the wider, narrower, “hotter” and “colder” regions.
The “liberal” and “conservative” labels refer not (only) to political opinions, but indicate predominate personality traits. In the “Big 5” model of personality, these are primarily “Conscientiousness” (Conservatism) or “openness to experience” (Liberalism).
The 2019 study includes a “heat-map” of the moral values showing the things the participants care about the most. The chart plots the data corresponding to those answers and shows the relative “heat” of affection in relation to its object.
The circles represent the objects of value to the individual with the color representing intensity— red being the “hottest” (most cared about) and green being coolest, or things which are less important to the individual.
As you can see, conservatives are “hot” toward the center, and liberals are “hot” toward the outside edges.
Here’s what each moral circle represents in the study, from the things nearest to a person (the inner rings), to those things furthest away from them (the outer):
All of your immediate family.
All of your extended family.
All of your closest friends.
All of your friends (including distant ones).
All of your acquaintances.
All people you have ever met.
All people in your country.
All people on your continent.
All people on all continents.
All mammals.
All amphibians, reptiles, mammals, fish, and birds.
All animals on earth including paramecia and amoebae.
All animals in the universe, including alien lifeforms.
All living things in the universe including plants and trees.
All natural things in the universe including inert entities such as rocks.
All things in existence.
The contrast is clear. Conservative personalities care far more for things which are nearest to them. They care the most about their families and friends. Then extending outward to broader groups, the nation, people and objects further away in proximity, all the while lessening in their estimation of value. This affinity for the near is called “parochialism” (indicating localization) and is indicative of a tendency toward Nationalism.
The Liberal personality is the opposite. They more highly esteem persons or things which are furthest from them. Their “hot zone” shows they most highly value “All animals in the universe, including alien lifeforms.” and “All living things in the universe including plants and trees,” according to the study.
This “extending of compassion to more encompassing entities” is called “Universalism” (which, while not used in the religious sense, is the same fundamental idea).
In the chart titled “Endorsement of values by political ideology,” we find the axes of personality and viewpoint. These are broadly labeled Nationalism and Universalism.
[The cross of points in the center explains the continual quest of politicians for the “Swing Vote” or, those of varied traits who fall somewhere in the middle and whose vote might be swayed in either way.]
I thought quite a while on how to end this material in a way which doesn’t detract from the clarity of the charts. Perhaps it is better to leave it as informational. I’ve filed it with the tag “Illustrations” since I like to refer back to it as the need arises to make a point about different kinds of people.
I’ll provide just one summary point, which is that there is a good chance that any person you’re speaking with values things in a radically different way than you do. Liberal-types probably do feel they need to “save the planet,” and Conservative-types are likely certain their borders are being invaded.
After reading this, it sure explains a lot as to why libs and conservatives do not see eye-to-eye. Their morals and values are not the least bit in alignment.