Document Type

Grant

Project Title

Talking Through Our Difference: Testing the Moral Attitude Dynamic Model for Mitigating the Polarization Along Cultural War Issues

Principal Investigator

Mengyao Xu

Publication Date

2027

College or Department

Conmmunication

Award Date Range

FY25 – Round II

Award Amount

$4,000.00

Abstract

This study examines the dynamic nature of polarization by applying the Moral Attitude Dynamic Model (MADM) to immigration discourse. Combining computational analysis of congressional debates with a randomized experiment (N = 1,402), it identifies context-specific moral foundations and evaluates MADM-informed moral reframing strategies. Results show that such messages reduce reactance and, under certain conditions, decrease social distance. Findings extend Contingency Theory by validating MADM as a dynamic, data-driven approach to polarization mitigation.

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