Political Psychology

Humor has evolved into a tool for political aggression and deception, according to new research. The analysis reveals how Trump and Ocasio-Cortez weaponize comedy to attack opponents and mask controversial ideas.

Researchers have discovered that everyday nervousness is linked to conspiracy theory endorsement, while stress regarding elections and polarization is not. This challenges the assumption that political anxiety drives conspiratorial thinking.

A new study finds election conspiracy theories don't necessarily cause democratic backsliding. Instead, people who already support authoritarianism are more likely to embrace conspiracy beliefs.

When politicians break the rules, voters often look the other way—if it helps their side. New research reveals that partisan hypocrisy is bipartisan, and supposed ideological splits over democracy may actually be driven by specific political battles.

A new study reveals that tweets expressing collective narcissism—a belief in a group’s superiority and victimhood—were central to the "Stop the Steal" movement. These messages went viral by tapping into deep-seated psychological needs for recognition.

A new study suggests that identity-based "woke" politics exist on the political right, focusing on white grievance and speech regulation. Researchers developed a new scale to measure these attitudes alongside existing left-wing measures.

A new study reveals that personality traits like anxiety and irritability are linked to liberal beliefs in young Americans. This association was not found in older cohorts or in international samples outside the United States.

Researchers surveyed citizens in nine countries to understand the rise of right-wing populism. They found that support typically stems from either a desire for democratic reform or a specific preference for authoritarian control.

Scientists investigating the "cult of personality" surrounding Donald Trump found that his staunchest supporters score unusually high in conscientiousness.

A new analysis of U.S. data reveals that mortality rates rise in counties supporting losing presidential candidates. The study suggests political disappointment leads to stress and social isolation, increasing death rates by 7 per 100,000 people.

New research suggests the 2008 Great Recession fundamentally altered how Americans perceive their social standing. An analysis of over 160,000 people indicates the economic shock caused a widespread decline in class identity that persisted long after the market recovered.

New research shows that liberals typically seek comprehensive statistical comparisons to evaluate policies, whereas conservatives are more likely to rely on categorical data points or specific instances.

Do Americans excuse political violence committed by their allies? A new experiment finds that while some bias exists, the severity of the crime is the strongest predictor of how harsh the punishment should be.

Researchers analyzing data from 18,000 respondents discovered that anxiety levels predict economic preferences as accurately as financial status. The link is strongest among those who lack a robust social safety net.

Geographic disparities in dementia may be rooted in the past. Researchers discovered that the political orientation of the state where a person grows up predicts their likelihood of developing cognitive decline decades later.