Subscribe
The latest psychology and neuroscience discoveries.
My Account
  • Mental Health
  • Social Psychology
  • Cognitive Science
  • Psychopharmacology
  • Neuroscience
  • About
No Result
View All Result
PsyPost
PsyPost
No Result
View All Result
Home Exclusive Social Psychology Sexism

New research shows people shift moral arguments to fit their stance on women’s bodies

by Mane Kara-Yakoubian
August 28, 2025
in Sexism
[Adobe Stock]

[Adobe Stock]

Share on TwitterShare on Facebook
Don't miss out! Follow PsyPost on Bluesky!

A new study published in the Journal of Personality & Social Psychology finds that people often use harm-based moral arguments strategically, rather than sincerely, when debating women’s bodily autonomy.

Public debates about women’s bodily autonomy frequently revolve around contentious issues such as abortion, sex work, or clothing regulations. These discussions often invoke morality, with harm being one of the most commonly cited principles. For example, arguments are sometimes framed around whether particular practices cause physical, psychological, or social harm. Psychologists have questioned whether harm truly drives public opinion, or whether it is used as a broadly persuasive justification.

Thekla Morgenroth and colleagues examined this question through the lens of moral foundations theory, which identifies several domains of moral reasoning including harm, fairness, purity, authority, and loyalty. They focused on two particularly contentious issues in the United States: the decriminalization of sex work and legal access to abortion.

Across seven studies with a total of 3,431 U.S. participants recruited online, the researchers explored both self-reported and experimentally manipulated reasoning. In the first two studies, participants were asked to explain their views on the decriminalization of sex work. In Study 1, they gave open-ended responses, which were then coded by independent raters to determine whether arguments reflected harm, fairness, purity, or authority.

Study 2a built on this by asking participants directly how much each moral foundation mattered in shaping their views, while also administering the Moral Foundations Questionnaire to measure their general moral beliefs. Study 2b replicated this design but shifted the focus to abortion, allowing the researchers to test whether the patterns extended beyond sex work.

The next set of studies examined whether harm arguments were not only common but also strategically used. In Studies 3a and 3b, participants read claims suggesting that decriminalizing sex work either increased harm (e.g., making sex work less safe) or decreased harm (e.g., reducing exploitation). The researchers then measured whether participants adjusted how important they thought harm was to their position depending on whether the information supported or challenged their stance.

Studies 4a and 4b explored whether harm-based arguments were strategically deployed to persuade others. Participants were asked to evaluate how convincing different types of moral arguments (centered on harm, fairness, or purity) would be to political in-group members compared to out-group members. This design allowed the researchers to test whether harm was seen as a particularly effective rhetorical tool when trying to reach those who might otherwise disagree.

Across the studies, harm consistently appeared in people’s explanations of their views on women’s bodily autonomy, but its role was not necessarily straightforward. In Study 1, supporters of sex work decriminalization tended to rely most on fairness arguments, while opponents emphasized purity. Despite these differences, both sides frequently invoked harm, suggesting it was a shared point of reference. Study 2a confirmed this pattern; when asked directly, both supporters and opponents reported that harm was highly important to their positions.

Yet when their general moral foundations were measured, harm did not actually predict their attitudes toward sex work. Instead, fairness predicted support, and purity predicted opposition. Study 2b revealed the same pattern in the abortion context. Participants claimed harm was central to their views, but the real predictors were fairness and purity. This suggests that people may overstate the role of harm in their reasoning.

The experimental studies provided further evidence for strategic use. In Studies 3a and 3b, when participants were told that sex work increased harm and this aligned with their preexisting opposition, they rated harm as highly important. When told that sex work decreased harm, contradicting their position, they downplayed harm and instead emphasized other foundations such as fairness or purity. In other words, people adjusted their moral reasoning to fit and protect their preexisting stance.

Studies 4a and 4b further showed that harm arguments were seen as especially persuasive tools. Both Republicans and Democrats judged harm-based arguments as more convincing than purity- or fairness-based arguments when trying to sway political opponents, underscoring harm’s role as a kind of moral “common denominator.”

Together, these results demonstrate that harm is not necessarily the true driver of people’s views on women’s bodily autonomy but is often used tactically, both to bolster one’s own position and to persuade others.

The authors note that data was collected online and exclusively within the U.S., which may limit how broadly the findings apply to other contexts or offline discussions.

The research, “The Strategic Use of Harm-Based Moral Arguments in the Context of Women’s Bodily Autonomy,” was authored by Thekla Morgenroth, Michelle K. Ryan, Abigael S. Click, and Nadira S. Faber.

RELATED

Pregnancy reshapes the brain: Study reveals gray matter changes linked to hormones and bonding
Sexism

Exposing baby bumps lowers perceptions of women’s humanness, study finds

September 25, 2025
Veterans who develop excessive daytime sleepiness face increased risk of death
Sexism

Women tend to feel more fearful in nature, especially when social threats are present

September 18, 2025
New study identifies sexual frustration as a significant factor in mass shootings
Racism and Discrimination

New study finds strong links between prejudice and support for political violence in the United States

September 16, 2025
Scientists identify a mysterious brain signal tied to stress and hormone pulses
Sexism

Students rate identical lectures differently based on professor’s gender, researchers find

September 10, 2025
New psychology research identifies a key factor behind support for harsh leaders
Sexism

Hostile sexism linked to disapproval of breastfeeding in public

August 29, 2025
Women feel unsafe when objectified—but may still self-sexualize if the man is attractive or wealthy
Attractiveness

Women feel unsafe when objectified—but may still self-sexualize if the man is attractive or wealthy

August 23, 2025
Lonely individuals tend to view themselves as a burden to others
Sexism

Women face backlash when expressing anger about gender inequality

August 12, 2025
Emophilia is a distinct psychological trait and linked to infidelity
Relationships and Sexual Health

Romantic relationships can help men recognize sexism, new research finds

August 3, 2025

STAY CONNECTED

LATEST

Long-term ayahuasca use linked to distinct emotional brain activity and higher resilience

Negativity drives engagement on political TikTok

Lower IQ in youth predicts higher alcoholism risk in adulthood

Cannabidiol may ease Alzheimer’s-related brain inflammation and improve cognition

This happens in your brain when you change your mind, according to neuroscience

Vegetarians tend to value achievement and power more than meat-eaters, study finds

Common viruses may directly affect mental health risk

Psychology study finds spill-over effects of nature visits on daily happiness

         
       
  • Contact us
  • Privacy policy
  • Terms and Conditions
[Do not sell my information]

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

Subscribe
  • My Account
  • Cognitive Science Research
  • Mental Health Research
  • Social Psychology Research
  • Drug Research
  • Relationship Research
  • About PsyPost
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy