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Agent-based moral rhetoric simulation to reduce political polarization

Author

Listed:
  • Evan M. Williams

    (Carnegie Mellon University)

  • Kathleen M. Carley

    (Carnegie Mellon University)

Abstract

Rising US polarization in recent years has negatively impacted many friend and family relationships. To determine the best moral strategies for facilitating cross-party communication, we create an agent-based simulation underpinned by Moral Foundations Theory to model small-group moral conversations where the majority of agents align with either liberal or conservative views. We find, contrary to what moral re-framing research has assumed, that loyalty may be the best moral foundation for facilitating cross-party communication. More research is needed to understand the depolarizing effects of moral arguments in group settings.

Suggested Citation

  • Evan M. Williams & Kathleen M. Carley, 2025. "Agent-based moral rhetoric simulation to reduce political polarization," Computational and Mathematical Organization Theory, Springer, vol. 31(2), pages 181-194, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:comaot:v:31:y:2025:i:2:d:10.1007_s10588-025-09401-9
    DOI: 10.1007/s10588-025-09401-9
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Jeremy A Frimer & Linda J Skitka, 2020. "Are politically diverse Thanksgiving dinners shorter than politically uniform ones?," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(10), pages 1-27, October.
    2. M. Keith Chen & Ryne Rohla, 2017. "The Effect of Partisanship and Political Advertising on Close Family Ties," Papers 1711.10602, arXiv.org, revised Jun 2018.
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