Schönleiter, Lilly (2025) The Influence of Moral Grandstanding on Ideological Extremism: Investigating Political Identity Strength as a Moderator. Bachelor thesis, Psychology.
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Abstract
As shown by studies and polling data, political polarization is increasing among young voters, many of whom identify with ideologically extreme parties. Moral grandstanding, which is the use of moral discourse to seek social status, has been theorized to be a driving factor of this trend by promoting ideological extremism. This study investigated whether exposure to moral grandstanding indeed increases ideological extremism and whether this effect is moderated by political identity strength. Using a between-subjects experiment, participants were randomly assigned to read a neutral or morally grandstanding comment in an online debate on gene modification. Ideological extremism and political identity strength were measured via self-assessment. The success of the manipulation was confirmed with a manipulation check where participants indicated their perception of moral grandstanding. Despite this, our results showed no significant effect of moral grandstanding exposure on ideological extremism, nor did political identity strength moderate this relationship. Additionally, political identity strength was positively associated with ideological extremism. These findings suggest that moral grandstanding may be a manifestation of ideological extremism rather than a cause that influences ideologically extreme attitudes. The present study highlights the stability of political attitudes and suggests that future research should focus on long-term exposure, topic salience, and emotionally charged discourse as factors driving ideological polarization. Keywords: Moral Grandstanding, Ideological Extremism, Political Identity, Social Identity, Group Polarization
| Item Type: | Thesis (Bachelor) |
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| Supervisor name: | Meerholz, E.W. |
| Degree programme: | Psychology |
| Differentiation route: | None [Bachelor Psychology] |
| Date Deposited: | 08 Jul 2025 14:14 |
| Last Modified: | 08 Jul 2025 14:14 |
| URI: | http://gmwpublic.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/5371 |
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