Individuals who are confident in their political knowledge and abilities are more likely to exhibit intolerance and hostility toward those with differing views, according to new research published in the journal Public Opinion Quarterly. Those who question their political prowess, in contrast, tend to approach disagreements with more openness and fairness.
Previous research into political behavior has often highlighted the virtues of political engagement and confidence. Historically, scholars have associated a strong sense of political efficacy—people’s belief in their ability to understand and influence political processes—with positive civic behaviors.
Individuals with high internal political efficacy are more likely to participate in elections, engage in discussions about politics, and hold a deeper trust in governmental institutions. This concept of the ‘self-confident citizen’ as an ideal participant in democracy is well-documented, suggesting that such confidence is conducive to a healthy, functioning democracy.
However, this positive perspective may not capture the entire picture. While political confidence encourages participation and engagement, it has also been correlated with higher levels of trust in government and more consistent political activity, it could have a downside. Research has started to explore how this confidence might correlate with less desirable behaviors, such as increased animosity and decreased tolerance towards opposing viewpoints. This growing concern is particularly relevant in an era marked by intense political polarization, where the divide between political groups has deepened, affecting social relationships and public discourse.
Motivated by these observations, the new study by researchers from Michigan State University and University of Massachusetts Amherst sought to further unravel the complex relationship between political confidence and tolerance. The researchers leveraged both survey data and an experimental approach.
The first part of the study utilized a national online survey conducted just before the 2020 presidential election. This survey aimed to capture a broad spectrum of opinions from a sample of 1,000 Americans, providing a diverse representation of the political landscape in the United States.
Participants were asked a series of questions to assess their internal political efficacy, which reflects their confidence in their understanding of and ability to influence politics. Additionally, the survey gauged participants’ attitudes towards political parties, specifically their feelings and behaviors towards those belonging to the opposing party. This included measuring the extent to which individuals experienced hostility toward opposing views and their likelihood of severing social ties over political differences.
The second part of the study adopted an experimental design to directly test the tolerance of political discrimination. In this survey experiment, participants were presented with a hypothetical scenario involving a hiring manager deciding whether to interview a job applicant based on the applicant’s previous leadership in a political group — either the College Democrats or College Republicans.
This setup was designed to simulate a real-world situation where political biases could influence professional decisions. The respondents’ reactions to this scenario were recorded to determine their levels of acceptance or rejection of such discriminatory practices based on political affiliation.
The results indicate that higher levels of internal political efficacy, which reflect a person’s confidence in their political knowledge and abilities, correlate strongly with decreased tolerance and increased hostility towards opposing viewpoints.
From the survey data, it emerged that individuals with high internal political efficacy were more likely to express negative sentiments towards members of the opposing political party. These individuals were not only more prone to hostility but also demonstrated a willingness to cut social ties based on political disagreements. The study found that these highly confident individuals were more likely to avoid conversations and even social interactions with those who held differing political views, indicating a significant impact on social cohesion.
The experimental part of the study further underscored these tendencies. When participants were asked to react to a scenario where a hiring manager discriminates against a job applicant due to their political group leadership—either with the College Democrats or Republicans—those with higher political self-confidence were more likely to find such discrimination acceptable. This suggests that political self-assurance may embolden individuals to justify or endorse exclusionary practices based on political affiliation.
Interestingly, the study also highlighted a discrepancy between general self-esteem and political self-confidence. While high levels of general self-esteem were associated with greater tolerance and openness to political diversity, high political self-confidence specifically led to more exclusionary attitudes. This distinction underscores that political self-confidence functions differently from broader psychological traits like self-esteem, having unique implications for political behavior and social interaction.
“We usually think that it is a good thing to feel confident about your abilities,” said study author Jennifer Wolak, a professor of political science at Michigan State University. “People who believe they can make a difference in politics tend to be good citizens — they keep up with current events and participate in elections. In this research, we highlight the dark side of political self-confidence. When people feel self-assured about their political abilities, they are closed-minded, hostile and ready to discriminate against those who do not share their political views.”
The study highlights the importance of self-awareness among politically confident individuals, suggesting that they should be more attentive to their methods of information processing and recognize their own confirmation biases. This caution is advised particularly when they are considering or engaging with opposing political viewpoints.
“Some people are deeply engaged in politics — they watch the news every day, follow political content on social media and talk about current events with friends and family. Other people rarely think about politics at all,” Wolak said. “While these folks are less politically assertive, they are much more willing to spend time with people who disagree with them. They are also much less likely to engage in partisan discrimination.”
The study, “Political Self-Confidence and Affective Polarization,” was authored by Carey E. Stapleton and Jennifer Wolak.
