New research forthcoming in Social Psychological and Personality Science illuminates why liberals and conservatives often support different types of leaders. The study shows that these preferences stem from differences in moral priorities rather than mere partisan bias.
"This research helps explain why people across the political spectrum often support such different types of leaders," explains lead researcher Harrison Miller, of Florida State University. "Rather than simply attributing these differences to political bias, our findings suggest these preferences are rooted in fundamental moral values."
The research found that conservatives tend to favor dominant leaders who employ assertiveness and formal authority, while liberals prefer prestigious leaders who lead through knowledge and earned respect. These preferences closely align with each group's core moral beliefs.
"Conservatives tend to prioritize group loyalty and respect for authority, which aligns with dominant leadership styles. Liberals typically emphasize fairness and care for vulnerable populations, which aligns with prestige-based leadership styles," says Miller.
"Understanding these underlying moral motivations can help reduce political polarization by showing how different leadership preferences emerge from sincere moral convictions rather than mere partisan bias."
The findings provide new insight into recent global political trends. "Recent years have seen the rise of more assertive, dominance-oriented political leaders globally," notes Miller. "Our research helps explain why such leaders often receive strong support from politically conservative voters - not necessarily because these voters are inherently authoritarian, but because such leaders appear to embody moral values around group loyalty and traditional authority that conservatives prioritize."
The researchers emphasize that their findings should not be oversimplified. "This research should not be used to suggest that either leadership style or set of moral priorities is superior," Miller cautions. "Both dominant and prestige-based leadership styles can be effective in different contexts. Additionally, while we found general patterns in moral preferences between liberals and conservatives, individual variation exists within both groups."
This work bridges previously separate theories about moral foundations and leadership styles, offering a new framework for understanding political behavior. "It's important to emphasize that our research reveals the complexity of leadership preferences rather than reducing them to simple political divisions," concludes Miller. "Understanding the moral beliefs that may underly leadership support could help bridge political divides by fostering mutual understanding of different viewpoints."
