A woman holding a fall leaf (Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Unsplash)
New research suggests the connection could impact everything from election outcomes to public health
VANCOUVER — As the seasons change, so too might our moral values, according to an interesting new study. Researchers have uncovered evidence suggesting that Americans’ endorsement of certain moral principles fluctuates throughout the year, following a consistent seasonal pattern.
Researchers at the University of British Columbia have uncovered a surprising pattern in how people embrace certain moral values throughout the year. Their study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, analyzed survey responses from over 230,000 Americans spanning a decade.
The results reveal a consistent seasonal ebb and flow in our endorsement of moral principles that promote group cohesion and conformity.
“People’s endorsement of moral values that promote group cohesion and conformity is stronger in the spring and fall than it is in the summer and winter,” says Ian Hohm, the study’s first author and a doctoral student in UBC’s psychology department, in a statement. “Moral values are a fundamental part of how people make decisions and form judgments, so we think this finding might just be the tip of the iceberg in that it has implications for all sorts of other downstream effects.”
Moral Foundations Theory
The researchers focused on five core moral principles identified by a framework called the Moral Foundations Theory. These principles include:
- Care (avoiding harm to others)
- Fairness (ensuring equal treatment)
- Loyalty (showing devotion to one’s group)
- Authority (respecting leaders and traditions)
- Purity (practicing cleanliness and piety)
The first two principles – care and fairness – are considered “individualizing” values as they focus on individual rights. The latter three – loyalty, authority, and purity – are the “binding” values that emphasize group cohesion.
The other three – loyalty, authority, and purity – are known as “binding” values because they encourage conformity to group norms. These values also tend to align closely with conservative political ideologies. Care and fairness, on the other hand, are more associated with liberal values, focusing on individual rights and welfare.
Intriguingly, the researchers found that people’s endorsement of the binding values followed a consistent biannual pattern over the decade studied. These values peaked in spring and fall, while dipping in summer and winter. This seasonal swing was particularly pronounced in areas with more extreme climate variations between seasons.
Why do seasons influence our morals?
But what could be driving these moral fluctuations? The researchers suggest that anxiety might play a crucial role.
Dr. Mark Schaller, the study’s senior author and a professor of psychology at UBC, notes: “We noticed that anxiety levels peak in the spring and autumn, which coincides with the periods when people endorse binding values more strongly. This correlation suggests that higher anxiety may drive people to seek comfort in the group norms and traditions upheld by binding values.”
The connection between anxiety and moral values isn’t entirely surprising. Previous research has shown that when people feel threatened or anxious, they often cling more tightly to group norms and authority figures. It’s as if the changing seasons subtly alter our perception of the world around us, making us feel more or less secure, which in turn influences our moral compass.
Bigger impact than you might realize
The implications of these findings are far-reaching and potentially profound. If our moral values indeed shift with the seasons, it could influence everything from political elections and legal judgments to public health responses and social relations.
For instance, the timing of elections could subtly impact outcomes, as shifts in moral values influence political opinions and behaviors. In the legal realm, the seasonality of moral values might affect the severity of judgments, as those who strongly endorse binding values tend to be more punitive towards those who violate social norms.
Even our response to public health crises could be influenced by these seasonal moral shifts. During the COVID-19 pandemic, adherence to social distancing guidelines and vaccination rates were linked to people’s moral values. Understanding how these values fluctuate throughout the year could help tailor more effective health campaigns.
Moreover, these seasonal changes in moral values might affect how people view outsiders or those who don’t conform to group norms, potentially influencing levels of intergroup prejudice.
While more research is needed to fully understand the mechanisms behind these seasonal moral shifts and their real-world impacts, this study opens up a fascinating new area of investigation. It invites us to consider how the rhythms of nature might be subtly shaping our moral landscape, influencing everything from our personal relationships to our societal structures.
As the seasons turn, we might do well to reflect on our own moral attitudes and consider how they might be shifting with the changing leaves or lengthening days. In doing so, we might gain a deeper understanding of ourselves and the complex interplay between our environment and our values.
Paper Summary
Methodology
The researchers analyzed data from an online moral values questionnaire completed by over 230,000 Americans between 2011 and 2020. They used statistical techniques to identify seasonal patterns in the responses, focusing on weekly averages of moral value endorsement. They also examined data on anxiety levels from both self-reports and Google search trends to explore potential explanations for the observed patterns. Additionally, they analyzed smaller datasets from Canada and Australia to test the generalizability of their findings.
Results
The study found a consistent biannual cycle in Americans’ endorsement of binding moral values (loyalty, authority, and purity), with peaks in spring and autumn and troughs in summer and winter. This pattern was remarkably consistent over the 10-year period studied. The researchers also found evidence that the summer decrease in endorsement of binding moral values was more pronounced in areas with more extreme seasonal climate differences. Anxiety levels were found to follow a similar biannual pattern, partially explaining the changes in binding moral values. Similar patterns were observed in the Canadian and Australian data.
Limitations
While the study used a large dataset, it relied on responses from computer-literate individuals who voluntarily completed an online survey, which may not fully represent the diverse population. Additionally, the study design was cross-sectional, meaning different people responded at different times, rather than tracking the same individuals across seasons. The researchers acknowledge that longitudinal studies following the same people over time would provide more rigorous evidence of these seasonal changes. The study also primarily focused on Western, educated, industrialized, rich, and democratic (WEIRD) societies, and the patterns may not generalize to all cultures worldwide.
Discussion and Takeaways
The findings suggest that moral values, particularly those related to group cohesion and authority, may be more malleable than previously thought. This has potential implications for various societal outcomes, including political behavior, legal judgments, and responses to public health measures. The study highlights the role of anxiety in shaping moral attitudes, suggesting that strategies to manage anxiety might influence moral decision-making. The researchers emphasize the need for further research to understand the mechanisms behind these seasonal changes and their real-world impacts, including how they might affect prejudices, legal judgments, and other important social phenomena.
Funding and Disclosures
The research was supported by an Insight Grant from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. The authors declared no competing interests.
