A new study recently published in the Journal of Social and Political Psychology investigates the political psychology that underpins different forms of partisan identity among political candidates. The researchers focused on teasing apart two fundamental constructs: partisan narcissism and partisan identification. Partisan narcissism is when someone believes their political party is superior and entitled to special treatment, but others … Continue reading The Complex Psychology of Partisan Identity
Motivated Reasoning, Fear and Partisan Reactions to the COVID-19 Pandemic
A new study on how anxiety from COVID-19 interrupted partisan habits (Mehlhaff, et al., AJPS) suggests that anxiety led Republicans in the USA to support mitigation policies despite elite cues. But had smaller effect on vote choice due to partisan loyalty. The study, which used panel surveys during 2020 election, found that anxiety prompted critical … Continue reading Motivated Reasoning, Fear and Partisan Reactions to the COVID-19 Pandemic
How has the pandemic affected support for antidemocratic practices?
A new multilevel, multicountry study delves into the Sociopolitical Consequences of COVID-19 in the Americas, Europe, and Asia. How has the pandemic affected support for antidemocratic practices? Let's explore the findings. INTRODUCTION In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the world witnessed an unprecedented global crisis. Beyond the immediate health concerns, this crisis also had … Continue reading How has the pandemic affected support for antidemocratic practices?
Why Is It So Hard To Admit When You’re Wrong?
When it comes to political polarization, it's confirmation bias all the way down. Ronald Bailey From the January 2022 issue (Illustration: Joanna Andreasson, source image: Daniela Pelazza/Shutterstock) People who commit intentional murder—and only those people—should be executed. That's a view I held for virtually all of my adult life. I am fully aware of the decadeslong debate … Continue reading Why Is It So Hard To Admit When You’re Wrong?
A Terrifying Journey to the Centre of Politics: Political Centrism as an Effect of Mortality Salience and a Need for Closure
Three studies assessed the relationship between need for closure (NFC) and evaluations of political ideology conversions as a function of mortality salience (MS). Following anexperimental (vs. control) manipulation, 156 participants evaluated politicians who switchedpolitical ideologies. Results indicate that MS induced people high in NFC to express greater support for politicians seeking consensus in the political … Continue reading A Terrifying Journey to the Centre of Politics: Political Centrism as an Effect of Mortality Salience and a Need for Closure
The Big-Five Personality Test and Cambridge Analytica
Personality and the Foundations of Political Behavior The scant science behind Cambridge Analytica’s controversial marketing techniques Nature peers into the evidence for ‘psychographic targeting’. 29 March 2018 NEWS EXPLAINER Elizabeth Gibney The practices of Cambridge Analytica, a data-analytics firm involved in US President Donald Trump’s 2016 election campaign, have made headlines around the world this … Continue reading The Big-Five Personality Test and Cambridge Analytica
La confianza en la política disminuye el riesgo de gravitar hacia el extremismo.
Hay factores psicológicos que llevan a que las personas se vean atraídas por los contenidos más banales, escandalizadores o emocionales.
The Psychology of Political Polarisation
The hyper-partisan nature of contemporary American politics is a major roadblock to effective compromise between Democrats and Republicans and an important contributor to rampant distrust of government in the U.S. I identify three factors that contribute to our polarized political environment by describing how 1) genuine differences in the moral sensibilities of liberals and conservatives … Continue reading The Psychology of Political Polarisation
The Negative Effects of Collective Narcissism and What Can We do About it
Interventions to reduce collective narcissism should emphasise its overlap with an alternative way of favouring the group – taking pride and finding joy in a community and acting towards bettering it.
Reminders of Mortality Fuels Support for BREXIT, and Trump
This Theory Holds the Secret to Healing America's Division Terror Management Theory explains how we became divided and how to heal. Posted Feb 12, 2019 It’s clear that America is becoming increasingly divided, and if we remain on the path we’re on, things are only going to get worse. There will be more aggression in the streets, … Continue reading Reminders of Mortality Fuels Support for BREXIT, and Trump
Politically Motivated Cognition
Blinded By Ideology: People Find It Difficult To Think Logically About Arguments That Contradict Their Politics Cognition, Political, ThoughtJanuary 23, 2019 By Jesse Singal A heated political story in the United States last weekend perfectly illustrates how tribal politics can supercharge a human weakness that psychologists have been studying for some time – our deep-seated tendency to accept evidence that supports our … Continue reading Politically Motivated Cognition
Identity Politics
Amidst discontent over America's growing diversity, many white Americans now view the political world through the lens of a racial identity. Whiteness was once thought to be invisible because of whites' dominant position and ability to claim the mainstream, but today a large portion of whites actively identify with their racial group and support policies … Continue reading Identity Politics
Abstract Mindset
Abstract Mindset Increases Consistency In Political Attitudes The Oxford Dictionary defines ideology as “a system of ideas and ideals, especially one which forms the basis of economic or political theory and policy”1. So it is a system of thought, assumed to possess coherence and internal consistency. When we talk about liberals and conservatives, we assume that members … Continue reading Abstract Mindset
Our feelings about politics matter
Why do our feelings about politics matter – and do they matter more now? It is too simplistic to argue that current heated debates about politics, especially in the context of Brexit and Trump, are due to the fact that our emotions about politics matter more now than before. Laura Jenkins argues that our feelings about politics … Continue reading Our feelings about politics matter
Presidents influence how we think, feel, and behave.
Our Nation’s Danger from Within Posted Dec 03, 2018 In the lead-up to the midterm elections, the nation watched in horror as reports came in of yet another mass shooting in America. In Pittsburgh, an individual with an anti-Semitic history reportedly carrying an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle and multiple handguns, shouted, “All Jews must die,” as … Continue reading Presidents influence how we think, feel, and behave.
Brain responses to disagreement predict Brexit vote
In or out – how brain activity can predict your vote on Brexit People’s brain responses to statements about the EU were a more accurate predictor of how they voted than their stated intentions By: Helge Hasselmann Surveys and opinion polls are notoriously bad at predicting election results, as a chain of rather unexpected events last … Continue reading Brain responses to disagreement predict Brexit vote
Political Socialisation
Your politics aren't just passed down from your parents. This cartoon explains what actually happens. Also, parents: You’re probably wrong about your kid. Alvin Chang Nov 20, 2018, 12:43pm EST For decades, political scientists thought they knew how kids developed their political beliefs: They mimicked their parents. After all, the data showed that most children … Continue reading Political Socialisation
Conspiracy theories and disenfranchisement
Conspiracy Theories and Antisemitism. This entry was posted in Conspiracy Theories on 22 June 2018 by Presentation to the All-Party Parliamentary Group against Antisemitism, Palace of Westminster, 19 June 2018.Richard J. Evans For the past five years I’ve been Principal Investigator on the research project “Conspiracy and Democracy”, funded by the Leverhulme Trust. I have two co-investigators, … Continue reading Conspiracy theories and disenfranchisement
Identity Politics
Is contemporary partisanship “identity all the way down”? By Christopher M. Federico 22 October, 2018 If there is a single buzzword that sums up American politics in the present era, it is “polarization.” Though citizens and commentators alike loosely use the term to refer to the acrimony that characterizes relations between Democrats and Republicans, political scientists often … Continue reading Identity Politics
Enhancing turnout by stimulating social acceptance
The powerful social psychology behind those ‘I voted’ stickers It’s tiny, usually. No bigger than a fist, for certain. But that unassuming little “I voted” sticker holds significance greater than the adhesive paper it’s printed on. “It makes the wearer proud, and it reaffirms their values and their self-concept as a good citizen,” said Judith Hall, … Continue reading Enhancing turnout by stimulating social acceptance
The Three Pillars of Radicalisation.
The psychology of how someone becomes radicalized Angela Fritz Several hundred white nationalists and white supremacists carrying torches march through Charlottesville in August 2017. (Evelyn Hockstein/For The Washington Post) Before he walked into a Pittsburgh synagogue with three handguns and an assault rifle, authorities say, professed his desired to “kill Jews” and opened fire, Robert … Continue reading The Three Pillars of Radicalisation.
Certain Personality Traits are More Attracted to Populism.
The Personality Trait That Is Ripping America (and the World) Apart. People who are antagonistic resonate more with populist messages. Scott Barry Kaufman. October 26, 2018. "First there was the "Me Generation" then "Generation Me". Now we have empirical evidence that we live in what will become known as the "Asshole Age" otherwise known as the Twitter … Continue reading Certain Personality Traits are More Attracted to Populism.
The Psychology of Trump’s Lies.
How the Science of "Blue Lies" May Explain Trump's Support. They are a very particular form of deception that can build solidarity within groups Donald Trump tells lies. His deceptions and misleading statements are easy to unmask. In one example—among hundreds of well-documented lies—FBI director James Comey told Congress in March that there is "no … Continue reading The Psychology of Trump’s Lies.
Psychology and neuroscience give us insights into the power of people’s words.
The Neuroscience of Hate Speech. Humans are social creatures who are easily influenced by the anger and rage that are everywhere these days. Oct. 31, 2018. Ben Jones. Do politicians’ words, the president’s especially, matter? Since he has been in office, President Trump has relentlessly demonized his political opponents as evil and belittled them as … Continue reading Psychology and neuroscience give us insights into the power of people’s words.
The Neuroscience of Hate Speech.
The Neuroscience of Hate Speech. Humans are social creatures who are easily influenced by the anger and rage that are everywhere these days. Oct. 31, 2018. Ben Jones. Do politicians’ words, the president’s especially, matter? Since he has been in office, President Trump has relentlessly demonized his political opponents as evil and belittled them … Continue reading The Neuroscience of Hate Speech.
People can (and do) understand the facts, but the facts don’t always matter.
Why People Ignore Facts. When it comes to reasoning, identity trumps truth. Steve Rathje. Posted Oct 25, 2018 Our ability to reason did not develop simply to help us find the truth. Instead, reasoning evolved to fulfill fundamentally social functions, like cooperating in large groups and communicating with others. This is one of the arguments … Continue reading People can (and do) understand the facts, but the facts don’t always matter.
The identitarian isolation
How Identity, Not Issues, Explains the Partisan Divide New research has disturbing implications Cameron Brick, Sander van der Linden June 19, 2018 U.S. politics increasingly looks like a savage battle between left and right. Consistent with closing ranks in a battle, Americans are expressing policy opinions that align more and more with their political groups. … Continue reading The identitarian isolation
Exposure to opposing political views can increase political polarisation.
Exposure To Opposing Political Opinions Online Can Increase Political Polarization Written By: Alex Bolano Social media sites like Facebook are often charged with increasing political polarization by establishing what are called “echo chambers,” places of discourse that prevent people from being exposed to things that contradict their beliefs. It is commonly believed that exposure to opposing … Continue reading Exposure to opposing political views can increase political polarisation.
Focusing on emotions helps diffuse political tension
Workshops focusing on intergroup emotions are showing how deeply-rooted beliefs can be changed to support conflict resolution. Group interventions, each lasting just five hours, broadened dozens of Israelis’ views on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, a study published in January showed. The study explored how in unyielding conflicts, the belief that one group can change their views motivates … Continue reading Focusing on emotions helps diffuse political tension
How we blind ourselves to our own peril
Why We Ignore the Obvious: The Psychology of Willful Blindness. How to counter the gradual narrowing of our horizons. By Maria Popova “Keep your baby eyes (which are the eyes of genius) on what we don’t know,” pioneering investigative journalist Lincoln Steffens wrote in a beautiful 1926 letter of life-advice to his baby son. And … Continue reading How we blind ourselves to our own peril
POLITICAL PSYCHOLOGY 