Assumptions of Vulnerability

We’ve analyzed your moral outlook on the world based on your Assumptions of Vulnerability (AoVs)—how much different targets seem especially vulnerable to victimization. The more vulnerable you perceive these targets, the more important you think it is to protect them from harm, and the more blame people deserve for mistreating them.

The 4 AoV Clusters

Four clusters of targets help make sense of political disagreement about hot-button issues. They are the Environment, the Othered, the Powerful, and the Divine. 

The Environment
This cluster focuses on how vulnerable natural ecosystems seem to harm. Examples include rainforests, coral reefs, and planet Earth itself. While many agree on the vulnerability of specific species (like polar bears), people disagree about the risks to complex systems from human actions. These differences help explain gaps in support for climate change policies and oil drilling.

The Othered
This cluster captures the vulnerability of groups outside the traditional center of American society. While liberals and conservatives may disagree on who counts as “marginalized,” both acknowledge that groups like undocumented immigrants, transgender people, and Muslims all exist outside the societal center. Different perceptions about the vulnerability of these groups shape debates over immigration policies and trans rights.

The Powerful
This cluster looks at whether those in positions of authority—like corporate leaders, police officers, and troopers—are vulnerable to harm. Most people see them as less likely victims than marginalized people, but political divides still arise from this cluster. Conservatives often see the powerful as worthy of protection–and also crucial for maintaining order (e.g., Blue Lives Matter)–while liberals can see members of these groups as invulnerable and targets of animosity (e.g., “eat the rich”).

The Divine
This cluster centers on whether religious entities, like God, Jesus, or the Bible, are vulnerable to harm. These beliefs drive disagreements about religious respect, such as whether burning a Bible is acceptable, and whether sin hurts God. Christianity’s central role in American politics makes this a particularly charged cluster.