What is it about?
Our moral values shape our perceptions of right and wrong. We show for the first time that Americans' endorsement of some moral values change with the seasons. Specifically, the extent to which people value loyalty, respect for authority, and the sanctity of traditional norms and practices decrease in summer and midwinter.
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Why is it important?
Our findings show that societal endorsement of moral values pertaining to loyalty, respect for authority, and the sanctity of traditional norms and practices change with the seasons. These three values (collectively known as "binding" values) are linked to greater punitiveness and prejudice toward marginalized groups. As a result, these findings have implications for seasonal variation in legal judgements and discrimination of various kinds.
Perspectives
I hope this article highlights for readers that seasons might be a non-obvious but non-trivial influence on their everyday social lives.
Ian Hohm
University of British Columbia
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Do moral values change with the seasons?, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, August 2024, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences,
DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2313428121.
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