The process of moralization

Moralization is the process through which preferences are converted into va lues, both in individual lives and at the level of culture. Moralization is often linked to health concerns, including addiction. It is significant be cause moralized entities are more likely to receive attention from governme nts and institutions, to encourage supportive scientific research, to licen se censure, to become internalized, to show enhanced parent-to-child transm ission of attitudes, to motivate the search by individuals for supporting r easons, and in at least some cases, to recruit the emotion of disgust. Mora lization seems to be promoted in predominantly Protestant cultures and if t he entity is associated with stigmatized groups or harmful to children. The recent history and current status of cigarette smoking in the United State s are used to illustrate moralization.