Political Psychology

A recent psychology study suggests that political polarization over environmental policies is strongly linked to an underlying gap in objective, factual knowledge about the causes and consequences of climate change.

A person’s tendency to see secret plots strongly predicts their belief in political rumors. But new research suggests this trait has limits: people quickly dismiss conspiracies if the rumors make their own political allies look bad.

Artificial intelligence recently analyzed over half a million social science abstracts published since 1960. The results show a steady decline in political diversity, with academic research becoming increasingly left-leaning over the past six decades.

A new study in PNAS Nexus reveals that politicians who rely on personal insults gain massive media attention but fail to achieve better legislative or electoral success, suggesting some lawmakers prioritize national celebrity over traditional lawmaking duties.

A new study explores how supporters of Donald Trump maintain their loyalty despite serious allegations. The findings suggest psychological discomfort drives voters to deny accusations, prioritize political policies, or claim other politicians act similarly.

Conservative political campaigns are increasingly repackaging extremist demographic theories into mainstream debates over electoral integrity. A recent analysis reveals how the language of democracy is utilized to mask exclusionary rhetoric and reshape public anxieties about national identity.

People who view themselves as having a high social status are often more politically active. Recent research reveals that for highly materialistic individuals, this civic engagement corresponds heavily with whether personal wealth makes their society feel fair.

Using mathematical equations, a researcher has mapped the psychology that prompts authoritarian leaders to initiate democratic reforms. The study suggests a "bittersweet" expectation of short-term chaos and long-term stability drives these historic shifts.

A new analysis of millions of social media posts reveals that extreme political polarization is closely linked to cognitive distortions, the rigid and exaggerated thought patterns often associated with anxiety and depression.

A new study mapping European political attitudes reveals that people who favor left-wing economic policies but hold conservative cultural views are the most likely to endorse conspiracy theories.

A new study finds that people's happiness and life satisfaction are closely associated with their support for government policies. The findings highlight how political alignment relates to mental well-being during periods of rapid political change.

A new study reveals that highly personalized messages and interactive digital debates do not change voters' minds any better than a single generic argument. Generative artificial intelligence is helping scientists challenge decades of academic theories about political persuasion.

A recent study published in Personality and Individual Differences provides evidence that believing words cause lasting psychological harm is linked to worse mental health. The research suggests this belief also tends to align with progressive political views.

People with more formal schooling are reliably less likely to hold authoritarian political views. A new study of Norwegian twins reveals that childhood environments and genetics largely explain this link, though education itself still plays a role.

New research published in Political Psychology provides evidence that challenging voters with surprising facts can reduce political hostility. The findings suggest that a short exercise designed to induce doubt tends to soften animosity between rival political factions.