The psychology that underpins abortion attitudes is poorly understood, despite decades of research. Acevedo, building upon previous work by his colleagues in Haselton’s lab, notes that another, non-mutually exclusive explanation for pro-life attitudes is plausible. Long-termers may therefore be extra motivated to disapprove of casual sex, because it could be a trigger for the breakdown of their own relationships. Instead, concerns about casual sex may unconsciously lead to and be rationalized through religious beliefs. “To the extent that abortion opposition among sexually restricted individuals is contingent on deterrence beliefs,” observe the psychologists, “challenging these beliefs may offer a more promising avenue for attitude change than theological or biological arguments relating to the sanctity of life or fetal personhood.