Political misfits retreat from relationships
Living around those of a different political persuasion can impact your ability to form close relationships, according to new research by William Chopik, assistant professor of psychology at Michigan State University, and Matt Motyl, assistant professor of psychology at the University of Illinois.
Their research, published in the journal Social Psychological and Personality Science, comes at a time of intense political stratification--with some states routinely described by pundits as “reliably blue” or “reliably red.”
The researchers used two national studies involving a total of more than 19,000 people. The studies took into account political orientation and ideological climate and considered whether participants avoided getting close to others or made an effort to understand the perspective of those who disagreed with them, according to a Michigan State University news release.
It might seem that living with those who disagree should make a person more open to other ideas, but it doesn’t. Being a political outsider in one of those reliably blue or red states can effect your ability to accept other perspectives and may even change your personality, the researchers found. Political misfits actually had a difficult time accepting other viewpoints. And instead of trying to assimilate or change their ideas, they withdrew from relationships.
The study is “Ideological Fit Enhances Interpersonal Orientations.”
Related:
Research: Divided political parties lose
Study: Republican campaign "disrespectful"
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