The mediating role of moral absolutism between the “binding moral foundations” and sexist attitudes: a path that may lead to intimate partner violence

Abstract

The binding foundations (loyalty, authority, and purity) constitute adaptive mechanisms for preserving groups’ interests. However, they have also been related to intergroup prejudice and violence. We show that the known relationship between the binding foundations and sexist attitudes is mediated by moral absolutism, a variable that reflects the degree to which people believe that their own definition of morality is objectively correct. Two different samples are used: a conventional one (Study 1, N = 321), and a forensic one at the beginning (T1) and at the end (T2) of court-mandated psychological therapy (Study 2, N = 354; N = 327).