3 Psychological Factors That Influence Our Political Ideologies
Research reveals that the 'nature vs. nurture' debate extends to include political views. Here's three surprising factors that sway our political compasses.
By Mark Travers, Ph.D. | May 21, 2024
Experiencing turbulent political events, unprecedented changes in climate and novel illnesses in the past few years have shaken global perceptions of stability and security. In these trying times, many turn to their political leaders, hoping they might make decisions and policies that lead to a brighter future.
From staunch conservatism on one end to progressive fervor on the other, our political ideology sways our perceptions and interactions with the world. An intricate web of factors weave together to shape our political identities and we reweave this web constantly to assimilate new experiences and challenges around us.
Here are three factors influencing political ideologies across our lifespan, according to research.
1. Genetic Predispositions
Political beliefs and affiliations are not simply a result of external influences. Biological predispositions and genetic inheritances also play a significant role in dictating our political leanings.
A 2020 study published in Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences found that political ideology is about 40% heritable. Our genes seem to have a widespread impact on our political identity—affecting how we perceive and react to people different from us, view political events and vote in elections.
Interestingly, hereditary influences on political orientation are dynamic in nature throughout our lives. Another 2020 study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology found that genetic impact on political orientation was stronger in young adults than in adolescents.
It appears that a complex interplay of nature and nurture sculpts political perceptions as we age and we are more influenced by shared socialization contexts, including family and peer influences, when we are younger.
2. Life Experiences
Among the myriad of factors molding our political identities, significant life events shape the trajectory of our beliefs in an undeniable way. Living through stressful situations can leave a long-lasting impact on our health and consequent behavior.
A 2024 study published in Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences puts forth the "threat-based neural switch theory" that posits that the stress caused by events such as economic crises and socio-political threats influences political opinion. Such stressful situations increase an individual's susceptibility to oversimplified political messages—including propaganda and ideological rhetoric.
According to this theory, to cope with threats such as a scarcity of resources, our brain function shifts from goal-directed processes to more simplistic information processing, making us more receptive to intolerant political messaging. This shift can lead to a rise in radicalism during pressing times, further highlighting the profound impact of our environment on political ideologies.
3. Personality Traits
Personality traits intertwine with life experiences and genetic factors to form political beliefs, influencing perspectives on governance, social policies and freedom. A 2020 study published in the Journal of Social and Political Psychology found that personality influences our broad political goals as well as daily political issues, such as income splitting or speed limits on roads.
Greater conscientiousness is associated with a more conservative political orientation. Conservatives tend to value conscientious traits of stability, conformity, tradition, order, structure, authority and display a preference for low complexity. These personality traits motivate them to avoid uncertainty and refute ambiguity to maintain stability.
On the other end, researchers found that greater openness and agreeableness result in a more liberal political orientation. Liberals seem to prefer novelty, flexibility and tolerance for uncertainty and ambiguity.
While genetic predispositions may create a foundation for our political attitudes, it is the interaction with life experiences and personality that shapes and refines these learnings. Understanding these complex factors can offer insight into the diversity of political beliefs and behaviors across the world and prompt further contemplation on the political choices we make everyday.
Are you able to accept opposing views with an open mind? Take this psychological assessment to find out: Warm Tolerance Scale (Interpersonal Tolerance)
A similar version of this article can also be found on Forbes.com, here.