Attributional and symbolic predictors of abortion attitudes

Attributional and symbolic politics approaches were used to develop a model relating symbolic predispositions, perceptions of responsibility for unwan ted pregnancy, affects, and attitudes toward abortion. In Study 1, a taxono my of 12 distinct causes of unwanted pregnancy was identified. College-stud ent subjects in Study 2 rated these causes on importance, controllability, blame, pity, anger, and judgments in favor of abortion. A regression analys is revealed that abortion approval in this student sample is negatively rel ated to conservatism, religiosity, and blame. In Study 3, a more extensive path model is offered indicating that abortion approval in a nonstudent sam ple is linked negatively to religiosity and moral traditionalism, and posit ively to sympathy. Results of the study demonstrate the utility of applying social psychological theory to abortion attitudes.