Basic value orientations and moral foundations: Convergent or discriminant constructs?

Abstract

This study examined the structural and genetic links between value orientations, based on the theory of basic values, and moral concerns, based on moral foundations theory. We hypothesized both structural and genetic convergence of Conservation (versus openness to change) with Binding foundations and of Self-transcendence (versus self-enhancement) with Individualizing foundations. We analyzed self-and informant ratings from 924 participants with extended multitrait-multirater modeling and ran twin model analyses on self-ratings from 555 twin pairs. For Conservation and Binding foundations, we found partial convergence across different rater perspectives and a substantial genetic overlap, but also distinct genetic factors. Self-transcendence and Individualizing foundations were found to be structurally divergent, but genetically linked. We discuss the conceptual and measurement-related implications of the findings.

Broad and narrow environmental and genetic sources of personality differences: An extended twin family study

“…This resulted in the typical circular correlational structure of value priorities (see Supplementary Figure B2 as well as JASP data analyses and outputs at https://osf.io/qfch5/ files/ for further analyses supporting the circular structure). Measures of moral concerns and value priorities are linked systematically due to common contents (see Zapko-Willmes et al, 2021, for analyses based on the twin sample). Moreover, Achievement and Power priorities showed positive links to Achievement and Power goals, ranging from r = 0.36 to r = 0.59.…”

Moralities, cultural fit and life satisfaction

“…The insights stemming from basic or personal values are informative in that they clarify the psychological mechanisms influenced by dispositional traits. However, it is crucial to expand our research to include moral values, as they reflect adaptations to the broader environment and the shared norms in different social contexts (Zapko‐Willmes et al, 2021).…”

The Longitudinal and Multimodal Age Groups Study of Personality Architecture and Dynamics (SPeADy)

“…More specifically, we expected that conservation versus openness-to-change value priorities ( Conservation ) would be structurally convergent with moral binding foundations ( Binding ) and that self-transcendence versus self-enhancement value priorities ( Self-transcendence ) would be structurally convergent with moral individualizing foundations ( Individualizing ). We investigated the convergence and divergence by performing, among others, confirmatory multitrait-multirater factor analyses (Zapko-Willmes et al, 2021). The analyses thus took the cross-rater consensus criterion into account and examined the system distinctiveness criterion.…”