December 2015 PMID 26445854

From gulf to bridge: when do moral arguments facilitate political influence?

Matthew Feinberg, Robb Willer

Download social card

Mentions

116
Peak: 15 in Feb 2019
across 5 sources since Feb 2017

Extended reach

152,227
potential audience

Total likes

3,530

Video views

89,876

Mentions per month

Feb 2017 – Apr 2025

Where it's discussed

  • News65 articles
  • X / Twitter23 posts
  • Blogs22 articles
  • YouTube3 videos
  • Facebook3 posts

AI synopsis

What people are saying

The discussions reflect a strong consensus that moral framing influences political influence, with examples like 'put arguments in terms of what others hold dear' and references to research by Feinberg & Willer. The tone ranges from informative to advising, emphasizing the importance of understanding and aligning with others' values for meaningful engagement.

AgreementModerate agreement

Most discussions acknowledge the effectiveness of moral reframing, especially emphasizing that aligning arguments with the audience's values can change opinions.

InterestHigh interest

Participants show high interest, citing relevant research and sharing strategies for political persuasion, indicating engagement with the article's core concepts.

EngagementModerate engagement

Comments include reflections on the research methods and implications, demonstrating thoughtful analysis beyond superficial remarks.

ImpactModerate impact

The discussions highlight practical applications, such as improving political dialogue and persuasion techniques, suggesting the study's relevance in real-world debates.

Abstract in brief

  • Moral arguments in American politics often fail to persuade those with opposing views because speakers typically rely on their own moral values rather than understanding the morals of their audiences.
  • Reframing political arguments to align with the moral values of the opposing side makes these arguments more effective in persuading them.
  • The research, conducted through six studies on issues like same-sex marriage and universal health care, shows that appeals matching the audience's moral values increase agreement and influence opinion change.]

Top posts

Most liked on X and Bluesky
André Spicer
@andre_spicer · X

How to convince someone who holds very different views to you? This study finds we spontaneously frame our arguements using our own values. But if your aim is to convince, frame your argument using the values of the person you are discussing with https://t.co/WDdxyrCxOY

Feb 4, 2019 · 55 likes · 17 shares · 15,191 followers View post →
Amir Grinstein מחקרהתנהגותי#
@AmirGrinstein · X

5/5 ומחקר עדכני יותר מחדד שימנים ושמאלנים לא בהכרח שונים בהיותם אתיים/מוסריים - אלא הם שונים בסוגים / ממדים שונים של המוסר/אתיקה שחשובה להם. הנה עוד על זה: https://t.co/1pArTfCC8z https://t.co/ouvZO7j1XT

Mar 11, 2024 · 6 likes · 6,465 followers View post →
Dr Ayoub Bouguettaya
@a_bouguettaya · X

This is a great article incorporating research by @WLouisUQ on making sure your arguments work. It reminds me of two really important papers: Put arguments in terms of what other people hold dear: https://t.co/Lh7tXwZSqp and LISTEN, don't judge: https://t.co/wFLTXDCZst https://t.co/VH1Y9aUCQP

Jun 12, 2019 · 5 likes · 237 followers View post →
Robb Willer
@RobbWiller · X

@JohnHolbein1 @semrasevi @mitchellbosley Cool paper! Prior research on moral reframing is relevant to this study, e.g.,: https://t.co/tdHRQqzMSZ https://t.co/uNoQcTytHW

Apr 24, 2025 · 3 likes · 7,314 followers View post →
Reece Peck
@PeckReece · X

@dfreelon @Chanders @rasmus_kleis @shannimcg @kreissdaniel @prof_vaccari @sjjphd @LawrenceRegina @meredithdclark @davekarpf @DrAlliRich @silviowaisbord @nikkiusher @claesdevreese @zizip @propublica https://t.co/OVMJPWe3CL

Nov 8, 2020 · 3 likes · 1,066 followers View post →
Koenfucius
@koenfucius · X

Oops. Somehow the link to the paper got lost. Here it is: https://t.co/ZVwftVW3Sg https://t.co/6g1WAAzKNg

Feb 8, 2019 · 2 likes · 8,534 followers View post →

All mentions

Robb Willer
@RobbWiller · X

@JohnHolbein1 @semrasevi @mitchellbosley Cool paper! Prior research on moral reframing is relevant to this study, e.g.,: https://t.co/tdHRQqzMSZ https://t.co/uNoQcTytHW

Apr 24, 2025 · 3 likes · 7,314 followers View post →
Amir Grinstein מחקרהתנהגותי#
@AmirGrinstein · X

5/5 ומחקר עדכני יותר מחדד שימנים ושמאלנים לא בהכרח שונים בהיותם אתיים/מוסריים - אלא הם שונים בסוגים / ממדים שונים של המוסר/אתיקה שחשובה להם. הנה עוד על זה: https://t.co/1pArTfCC8z https://t.co/ouvZO7j1XT

Mar 11, 2024 · 6 likes · 6,465 followers View post →
Kamil Stanuch
@KamilStanuch · X

⚖️ O argumentacji politycznej przy użyciu sądów moralnych W badaniu "From Gulf to Bridge: When Do Moral Arguments Facilitate Political Influence?" (2015) poproszono uczestników o sformułowanie argumentów politycznych, które przekonają politycznych przeciwników.

Feb 11, 2023 · 1 like · 2,437 followers View post →
Nick Byrd, Ph.D.
@byrd_nick · X

@StefanFSchubert @RichardMCNgo @__nmca__ @saffronhuang @eschwitz @fierycushman @PeterSinger Feinberg, M., & Willer, R. (2015). From Gulf to Bridge: When Do Moral Arguments Facilitate Political Influence? Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 41(12), 1665–1681. https://t.co/sWrzhj5aBP

Dec 17, 2021 · 3,502 followers View post →
Reece Peck
@PeckReece · X

@dfreelon @Chanders @rasmus_kleis @shannimcg @kreissdaniel @prof_vaccari @sjjphd @LawrenceRegina @meredithdclark @davekarpf @DrAlliRich @silviowaisbord @nikkiusher @claesdevreese @zizip @propublica https://t.co/OVMJPWe3CL

Nov 8, 2020 · 3 likes · 1,066 followers View post →
Zach Cooper
@fitnessscholar · X

@UICPT542 communication overcomes conservatives’ resistance to liberal political ideas. Journal of personality and social psychology, 114(4), 599. 4 Feinberg & Willer (2015). From gulf to bridge: When do moral arguments facilitate political influence?. Personality and Social Psychology

Sep 1, 2020 · 1 like · 405 followers View post →
Dr Ayoub Bouguettaya
@a_bouguettaya · X

All these examples have something in common. People chose to use language or act in a way that they thought against how THEY would act/understand. There's clear evidence that this is how people talk about politics, and when you change that....bam. 10/ https://t.co/vLvn6wMs4P

Mar 10, 2020 · 237 followers View post →
Dr Ayoub Bouguettaya
@a_bouguettaya · X

This is a great article incorporating research by @WLouisUQ on making sure your arguments work. It reminds me of two really important papers: Put arguments in terms of what other people hold dear: https://t.co/Lh7tXwZSqp and LISTEN, don't judge: https://t.co/wFLTXDCZst https://t.co/VH1Y9aUCQP

Jun 12, 2019 · 5 likes · 237 followers View post →
Koenfucius
@koenfucius · X

Oops. Somehow the link to the paper got lost. Here it is: https://t.co/ZVwftVW3Sg https://t.co/6g1WAAzKNg

Feb 8, 2019 · 2 likes · 8,534 followers View post →
John D Hamilton
@HamiltonJohnD · X

RT @andre_spicer: How to convince someone who holds very different views to you? This study finds we spontaneously frame our arguements usi…

Feb 6, 2019 · 17 shares · 3,328 followers View post →
Zed Dee
@ZedDeeCee · X

Supplementary material has some examples https://t.co/DGoy5wcCNK

Feb 4, 2019 · 39 followers View post →
Pitòsh Heyden
@Pitrast · X

RT @andre_spicer: How to convince someone who holds very different views to you? This study finds we spontaneously frame our arguements usi…

Feb 4, 2019 · 17 shares · 1,739 followers View post →
Colin Dey
@colindey · X

RT @andre_spicer: How to convince someone who holds very different views to you? This study finds we spontaneously frame our arguements usi…

Feb 4, 2019 · 17 shares · 755 followers View post →
Dr Priest
@penelopepriest · X

RT @andre_spicer: How to convince someone who holds very different views to you? This study finds we spontaneously frame our arguements usi…

Feb 4, 2019 · 17 shares · 237 followers View post →
DPManchee
@DPManchee · X

RT @andre_spicer: How to convince someone who holds very different views to you? This study finds we spontaneously frame our arguements usi…

Feb 4, 2019 · 17 shares · 1,151 followers View post →
University Noah
@giudicialex · X

RT @andre_spicer: How to convince someone who holds very different views to you? This study finds we spontaneously frame our arguements usi…

Feb 4, 2019 · 17 shares · 2,335 followers View post →
Pedro Monteiro
@bureaulab · X

RT @andre_spicer: How to convince someone who holds very different views to you? This study finds we spontaneously frame our arguements usi…

Feb 4, 2019 · 17 shares · 2,024 followers View post →
Organizations, Artifacts & Practices (OAP)
@WorkshopOAP · X

RT @andre_spicer: How to convince someone who holds very different views to you? This study finds we spontaneously frame our arguements usi…

Feb 4, 2019 · 17 shares · 1,830 followers View post →
Dr Ling E. Zhang
@LingEleanorZ · X

RT @andre_spicer: How to convince someone who holds very different views to you? This study finds we spontaneously frame our arguements usi…

Feb 4, 2019 · 17 shares · 213 followers View post →
Sai
@psychalv · X

RT @andre_spicer: How to convince someone who holds very different views to you? This study finds we spontaneously frame our arguements usi…

Feb 4, 2019 · 17 shares · 629 followers View post →
Florian Täube
@taeube · X

RT @andre_spicer: How to convince someone who holds very different views to you? This study finds we spontaneously frame our arguements usi…

Feb 4, 2019 · 17 shares · 662 followers View post →
Shaz Ansari
@ShazAnsari1 · X

RT @andre_spicer: How to convince someone who holds very different views to you? This study finds we spontaneously frame our arguements usi…

Feb 4, 2019 · 17 shares · 1,580 followers View post →
André Spicer
@andre_spicer · X

How to convince someone who holds very different views to you? This study finds we spontaneously frame our arguements using our own values. But if your aim is to convince, frame your argument using the values of the person you are discussing with https://t.co/WDdxyrCxOY

Feb 4, 2019 · 55 likes · 17 shares · 15,191 followers View post →