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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
World
Samuel Osborne

Right-wingers more likely than lefties to see themselves as morally superior, study finds

It's an old stereotype that left-wingers consider themselves morally superior to other people, but new research suggests those on the political right are more likely to think they're superior.

A YouGov survey of 1,646 Britons found those who are on the right are more likely to regard themselves as morally superior. 

The survey found 47 per cent of those who describe themselves as very or fairly right-wing or right-of-centre say they thought they were more of a good person than the average Briton, while 43 per cent said they were about as good.

Significantly fewer left-wingers, 39 per cent, thought they were morally superior, and just over half said they were about as good as others.

Those in the centre were most likely to say they were about as good as the average Briton.

The research also found right-wingers are more likely to believe some people are born evil.

While 25 per cent of those on the left say some people are born evil, 39 per cent of right-wingers think the same.

Those who place themselves on the political centre have similar views to those on the right, with 37 per cent saying some people are born evil.

However, of the whole sample polled, 68 per cent said they believed there were more good people than bad people in the world. 

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