Attitudes moralization and outgroup dehumanization in the dynamic between pro‐ vs. anti‐vaccines against COVID‐19

Attitudes towards socially sensitive topics tend to be polarized and moralized. Literature showed that in the political arena people consider their group different from outgroup moral terms, how this perceived distance is capable of producing discrimination against outgroup. In light evidence, aim study (N = 234) was examine dynamics between Pro-vaxers No-vaxers relation SARS-COV-2 vaccine. Participants evaluated strength attitude COVID-19 vaccine, extent which They reported ingroup completed a scale animalistic dehumanization. Results positive association vaccine its moralization. The tendency moralize positively associated with perception outgroup, A sequential mediation model an indirect effect links dehumanization through moralization groups. are discussed recent theories on attitudes importance institutional communication. Please refer Supplementary Material section find article's Community Social Impact Statement.