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Moral disagreements: Unearthing pathways to constructive and destructive behavioral responses.

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Title: Moral disagreements: Unearthing pathways to constructive and destructive behavioral responses.
Authors: Khati, Bhakti (AUTHOR), Kutlaca, Maja (AUTHOR), McPhetres, Jonathon (AUTHOR), Paolini, Stefania (AUTHOR)
Source: Political Psychology. Feb2026, Vol. 47 Issue 1, p1-28. 28p.
Subjects: Transgender rights, Empathy, Ethical problems, Motivation (Psychology), Emotions, Self-destructive behavior, Stress management, Prosocial behavior
Abstract: Issues like transgender rights often provoke strong emotional reactions, leading to polarized conflicts. Moral psychology suggests that emotions like anger and disgust drive destructive behaviors, such as avoiding or insulting the opponent. However, we argue that constructive behaviors, such as listening to the opponent, are also possible. We propose that appraisals related to engaging and coping with moral disagreements also play critical roles in predicting different behaviors. In an online study with 902 participants from the UK, US, India, and Serbia, we explored these dynamics using a message exchange paradigm. Participants received a message, purportedly from another participant ("messenger"), that contradicted their attitudes toward transgender rights. They then provided emotional reactions, wrote a response, and indicated their willingness to engage in constructive or destructive behaviors with the messenger. Constructive behavioral intentions were predicted by greater empathy, lower disgust and anger toward the messenger, and a higher perceived ability to cope with responding. In contrast, destructive intentions were predicted by lower empathy, greater disgust, lower coping abilities, and higher perceived difficulty in responding. These findings enhance our understanding of behavioral responses to moral disagreements on contentious issues like transgender rights and suggest ways to promote constructive dialogue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Political Psychology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
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  Data: Moral disagreements: Unearthing pathways to constructive and destructive behavioral responses.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Khati%2C+Bhakti%22">Khati, Bhakti</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Kutlaca%2C+Maja%22">Kutlaca, Maja</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22McPhetres%2C+Jonathon%22">McPhetres, Jonathon</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Paolini%2C+Stefania%22">Paolini, Stefania</searchLink> (AUTHOR)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Political+Psychology%22">Political Psychology</searchLink>. Feb2026, Vol. 47 Issue 1, p1-28. 28p.
– Name: Subject
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  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Transgender+rights%22">Transgender rights</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Empathy%22">Empathy</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Ethical+problems%22">Ethical problems</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Motivation+%28Psychology%29%22">Motivation (Psychology)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Emotions%22">Emotions</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Self-destructive+behavior%22">Self-destructive behavior</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Stress+management%22">Stress management</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Prosocial+behavior%22">Prosocial behavior</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
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  Data: Issues like transgender rights often provoke strong emotional reactions, leading to polarized conflicts. Moral psychology suggests that emotions like anger and disgust drive destructive behaviors, such as avoiding or insulting the opponent. However, we argue that constructive behaviors, such as listening to the opponent, are also possible. We propose that appraisals related to engaging and coping with moral disagreements also play critical roles in predicting different behaviors. In an online study with 902 participants from the UK, US, India, and Serbia, we explored these dynamics using a message exchange paradigm. Participants received a message, purportedly from another participant ("messenger"), that contradicted their attitudes toward transgender rights. They then provided emotional reactions, wrote a response, and indicated their willingness to engage in constructive or destructive behaviors with the messenger. Constructive behavioral intentions were predicted by greater empathy, lower disgust and anger toward the messenger, and a higher perceived ability to cope with responding. In contrast, destructive intentions were predicted by lower empathy, greater disgust, lower coping abilities, and higher perceived difficulty in responding. These findings enhance our understanding of behavioral responses to moral disagreements on contentious issues like transgender rights and suggest ways to promote constructive dialogue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of Political Psychology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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        Value: 10.1111/pops.13077
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      – Code: eng
        Text: English
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        PageCount: 28
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      – SubjectFull: Transgender rights
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Empathy
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      – SubjectFull: Ethical problems
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      – SubjectFull: Motivation (Psychology)
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      – SubjectFull: Emotions
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      – SubjectFull: Self-destructive behavior
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      – SubjectFull: Stress management
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      – SubjectFull: Prosocial behavior
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      – TitleFull: Moral disagreements: Unearthing pathways to constructive and destructive behavioral responses.
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            NameFull: Khati, Bhakti
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            NameFull: Kutlaca, Maja
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            NameFull: McPhetres, Jonathon
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              Text: Feb2026
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
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