Kognitive Dissonanz erklärt neue Forschungsergebnisse, warum Trump-Anhänger loyal bleiben. Dies wirft ein Licht darauf, wie Anhänger von Donald Trump ihre fortgesetzte Treue rechtfertigen, obwohl sie von Vorwürfen über sein sexuelles Fehlverhalten und seine illegalen Aktivitäten erfahren haben.
Cognitive dissonance helps explain why Trump supporters remain loyal, new research suggests
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Cognitive dissonance helps explain why Trump supporters remain loyal, new research suggests
A recent study published in the Journal of Social and Political Psychology sheds light on how supporters of Donald Trump justify their continued allegiance despite learning about allegations of his sexual misconduct and illegal activities. The research suggests that when people face information that conflicts with their deeply held beliefs, they tend to reduce their mental discomfort by denying the allegations, focusing on policies over personal behavior, or claiming that other politicians commit similar acts.
The scientists initiated this research to understand a specific political dynamic. They noticed that Donald Trump tends to retain widespread support even after facing severe accusations, including accounts of sexual misconduct, abuse of power, and efforts to overturn the 2020 election that culminated in the January 6 Capitol attack. To make sense of how voters mentally navigate this conflicting information, the researchers examined the situation using the psychological concept of cognitive dissonance.
The researchers found a positive association between feeling bothered by the news article and expressing disbelief in the allegations. Participants who experienced higher levels of mental discomfort were more likely to claim the accusations were fabricated. This suggests that the denial is not just a calm rejection of information, but rather a direct response to the psychological distress of cognitive dissonance.
From a psychological perspective, these responses represent novel ways to reduce mental friction. For instance, arguing that a politician’s personal life does not matter is a way of conceptually separating, or compartmentalizing, conflicting pieces of information. By making the personal misconduct seem completely irrelevant to political leadership, individuals can successfully eliminate their mental tension.
For those interested, here’s the link to the peer reviewed journal article:
https://jspp.psychopen.eu/index.php/jspp/article/view/16085
***It’s Easier*** to Fool ***People*** Than ***It Is*** to ***Convince*** Them That ***They*** Have ***Been Fooled***. – Mark Twain.
Old research suggests the same
Even in this study we see that many supporters dismiss Trump’s transgressions and character flaws, believing he is superior on the economy, an oft-repeated claim.
Yet this too is demonstrably false, as the evidence makes quite clear. It is, in effect, a double-layered cognitive dissonance.
Whenever I see something like this, I begin to wonder where mine are.
Had one say to me „If you supported Kamala Harris in the last election, then you were pro child abuse. Good luck living with that.“
Theyre literally cult members.
Racists will always support racists. That’s more important to them than any crimes dear leader has committed.
A decade, over a decade really, for that term to circle back round.
People still will refuse to understand,
*sigh*
Because of cognitive dissonance based discomfort.
Its a cult, logic and truth do not matter.
I see a similarity between adherence to religious doctrine and political loyalty.
Anything that speaks contrary to their beliefs will be rejected. Yes we entered the age of disinformation. Human psyche is fragile and susceptible to brain washing. Those 30% that support him – will do so most likely till their last breath.
Cults are emotional phenomena. That’s why they make no sense to outsiders.
They were fine with him terrorizing and murdering people they don’t like. They’re only upset because they’re getting caught in the crossfire.
If we’re able to survive this and if America is able to claw back to a somewhat humane and reasonable nation and people again, they will likewise get caught in the wake and be helped out of the hole along the with the rest of us, despite, I’m sure, not lifting a finger.
To help would mean to acknowledge it needs fixing and to do that would mean to acknowledge it’s broken and to do that would mean to acknowledge they helped break it in the first place. They won’t do that. They’re too lacking of introspection and decency.
Call it cog dis if you want, but their claimed motivations are lies.
I have no sympathy for them.
I think we’re at a point where it’s fair to say that most of his supporters are mentally handicapped. Most states have laws preventing the mentally unsound from voting. We should start looking at those laws to apply it to Trumpers. The only two options for supporting him are being incredibly dumb and being evil.
It’s just that they are more xenophobic than someone that cares who’s the president
This explains anyone who digs in deeper on a stance despite what evidence says that conflicts with their beliefs. It’s common in humans because quite a few people will construct who they are around their beliefs, so if something challenges their beliefs, it also challenges who they’ve made themselves to be.
On top of that, with humans being very social creatures, people will form like-minded groups based on their beliefs and consequentially, their inner selves. It is much easier to deny new information and maintain your set of beliefs and your personalities in a group where you feel safe as opposed to „facing the music“ and realizing you were wrong.
Obviously this is being used to explain Trump supporters that are sticking by him, but this could easily be applied to other groups as well.
We need a post on science to tell us these people are dumb as nails?
They overwhelmingly cannot read. They are functionally illiterate
They see him as a strong leader, things he’s done wrong become secondary to the things they believe he is capable of/will do as a result.
People do this all the time.
Morality is often just for show.
It is cause a lot of them have a hierarchical worldview where strong should rule over the weak, and they do feel Trump is doing exactly that. It is a sickening worldview of zero boundaries being respected, zero morals. Just “testing what I can do regardless of what society wants me to do”. And Trump normalizes that.
By creating more distance between “strong” and “weak”, they get a sense that they are even more special than they feel they are right now. It’s a rather entitled way of thinking.
This is what hyperindividualism does to people. They grow into narcissists who think they are somehow the “deserving ones” with zero objective proof of their “supremacy”.
And we haven’t even gotten around to the part about how they are enamored with Trump because he’s a nasty, vile individual. Something about all that negativity and wishing to harm people they don’t like appeals to them.
It absolutely does. My sister and I have both been trying to break through to our mom. Our mom keeps whining about how her heart can’t take the politics anymore. I told her, yeah I suppose it is very taxing to have to defend him all the time, but there’s a solution for that. She’s also taken to ignoring my messages completely.
I thought Trump supporters were just willfully stupid.
I grew up Mormon (officially out) and the parallels are stunning.
Mormons and die-hard Trump supporters both know that their leaders:
1. Abused young girls (Smith and other leaders “married” them)
2. Lie/lied
3. Committed financial fraud (current Mormon leaders recently received the biggest SEC fine in history, $5 million).
4. Blame everyone else for their own failings and mistakes.
5. Cover up child SA. The Mormon church has a hotline manned by church lawyers who help local leaders of congregation protect abusers. Trump has the DOJ.
Cognitive dissonance is very real and very powerful.
It’s a cult of personality and Donny’s diaper is dripping with personality.
Morally bankrupt just like their lord and savior
We needed a scientific study to prove more proof of his nastiness will not change their minds?
It’s simply called mental illness
Much of Trump support comes not so much from really liking Trump, but rather a reaction against some of the batshit crazy ideas supported by many liberals.
No other politician, no matter how corrupt, does what Trump does.
So even science agrees that his supporters behave exactly like they’re in a cult.
We are all guilty of cognitive dissonance to one degree or another. I am naturally rather skeptical of anyone telling me that the people I dislike must be brain dead.
How many people read this title, felt validated and accepted it without question?
I mean, just look at the comments.
Where is the line between cognitive dissonance and flat out not living in reality?
Or, hear me out, they wish they could do and get get away with what he’s been doing and that’s why they’re still loyal. He’s living their dream.
I’m old enough to see this go both ways, but it’s much more prevalent with MAGAts than any other movement.
Richard Jeni explained it best during one of his stand ups. He called it „Circular Reasoning“. And even though it was a comedy bit it really hits deep when you break it down.