Political Psychology

Nostalgia for a party’s past doesn’t mean the same thing to every partisan. Partisans who felt nostalgic reported more support for violence if their passion was obsessive, but less if it was harmonious.

Many survey methods assume people weigh every feature of a candidate or policy. New research suggests most don’t: mental shortcuts dominated, and the strategy people used often shifted from one issue to the next.

Advocating for unrestricted freedom of speech is not always driven by democratic ideals. A new psychological study finds that the broadest support for free expression is closely tied to conspiracy beliefs and a deep distrust of societal institutions.

Americans evaluate major political events through a deeply polarized lens. A new study finds that intense dislike of political opponents and differing beliefs about what threatens democracy warp how the public remembers the Black Lives Matter protests and January 6.

A recent study of over 50,000 individuals reveals that genetic predispositions for health and personality traits predict voter turnout. Using advanced DNA scoring, researchers shed light on how genetics might influence our likelihood to engage in the political process.

People who believe in the devil and hell are more likely to blame society for poverty, while those who believe in a supportive deity are less likely to do so, according to a recent survey of South Korean adults.

Mail-in ballots are usually discussed as a way to boost turnout. New research suggests they may also help voters make better choices, with mail voters more likely to pick the candidate aligned with their stated preferences.

After the 2020 election, online talk of voter fraud zeroed in on cities with large Black populations. A new study suggests these racialized claims found a particularly receptive audience among White Americans who score high in racial resentment.

People who take time to deliberate before choosing a side on a political issue tend to be judged as having better moral character by those who disagree with them, according to new research.

A preference for social hierarchy may be linked to both brain structure and motivation. Researchers found that people scoring higher in social dominance orientation had less gray matter in a region tied to empathy and emotion.

Conservatives tend to report more rigid thinking styles than liberals, but that doesn't appear to make them more likely to follow their party's lead. Across dozens of issues, both groups shifted toward their party's stance about equally.

People who view the world as devoid of meaning are more likely to support political violence. A new study suggests that simple exercises to find everyday meaning could help reduce these violent extremist intentions.

Taking psychedelics on the Fourth of July is linked to decreased support for partisan violence, while using them during political conventions shows the opposite effect. A new study suggests the broader cultural mood heavily influences a psychedelic experience.

When politics comes up in small group chats, people often adjust their stated opinions to match the dominant viewpoint. New research using AI-simulated conversations reveals that social pressure can easily sway how we express our political beliefs.

A recent study reveals that parents of transgender youth experienced worsening mental health and heightened anxiety following the 2025 presidential inauguration. The research highlights the immediate emotional toll that shifting political climates take on families.