Political Psychology

By measuring voter trust in candidate issue-handling and leadership strength, a forward-looking forecasting model successfully predicted the historically close outcome of the 2024 United States presidential election. The research provides actionable insights for shaping campaign strategy.

A new study testing the relative importance of ten major policy issues found that American voters place surprisingly high importance on mental health care, especially among liberals, higher-income earners, and those in poor health.

Voters often warp their memories of an election to align with the actual results. A new psychological study reveals how partisan biases shape our memories, leading people to subconsciously rewrite their past predictions to protect their political identities.

Can you successfully argue a viewpoint you deeply disagree with? Researchers have developed a behavioral test inspired by artificial intelligence research to measure political and social empathy, revealing high levels of mutual understanding across polarizing debates.

New research reveals that conservatives report more favorable attitudes toward addictive products than liberals. This ideological divide stems from conservatives' stronger sense of personal control.

A new study reveals that the "angry Black woman" stereotype largely fails to capture how emotions drive political engagement. Depending on the topic, feelings of fear, hope, and anger push Black women into distinctly different avenues of political activism.

When politicians speak, supporters and opponents hear different things. A new study provides evidence that our political identities dictate our basic language comprehension, making us much more likely to understand the meanings of politicians we support.

A new study published in PNAS reveals that Trump’s recent calls for censorship successfully swayed his voters to support restricting speech. Meanwhile, the same rhetoric caused non-Trump voters to become even stronger advocates for free expression.

Quality sleep provides the energy necessary to engage in democracy. A new study finds that while rested citizens are more likely to vote, those struggling with sleep disruptions often channel their frustrations into boycotts and protests instead.

During the 2024 election, Democrats overwhelmingly rejected the way Donald Trump communicates. In contrast, Republicans were much more likely to tolerate Kamala Harris's speaking style.

While most Americans want the government to formally define ultra-processed foods, fewer support grocery taxes or food assistance restrictions. A new study highlights how income, political affiliation, and personal beliefs shape public opinion on food regulations.

Does protecting free speech harm vulnerable minorities? A new analysis of over 600,000 people suggests the opposite, finding that individuals who prioritize open expression hold significantly more tolerant attitudes toward marginalized groups.

By measuring facial expressions and heart rates, researchers discovered that momentary emotional reactions often align with political ideology, predicting whether individuals find factually true or false statements trustworthy.

How do prejudiced beliefs influence the ballot box? A comprehensive review of nearly 100 studies provides evidence that different types of sexism strongly predict political behavior.

When young Americans use dating apps, political labels act as major dealbreakers. A new study in the European Sociological Review reveals that daters penalize opposing political views heavily, driven by assumed lifestyle clashes and fear of family disapproval.