Open AccessCorrecting inaccurate metaperceptions reduces Americans’ support for partisan violence
Author(s) -
Joseph S Mernyk,
Sophia Pink,
James N. Druckman,
Robb Willer
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
proceedings of the national academy of sciences of the united states of america
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.011
H-Index - 771
eISSN - 1091-6490
pISSN - 0027-8424
DOI - 10.1073/pnas.2116851119
Subject(s) - public support , presidential system , public opinion , politics , social psychology , political science , suicide prevention , test (biology) , perception , presidential election , psychology , criminology , poison control , medicine , law , public administration , medical emergency , neuroscience , paleontology , biology
Significance Prominent events, such as the 2021 US Capitol attack, have brought politically motivated violence to the forefront of Americans’ minds. Yet, the causes of support for partisan violence remain poorly understood. Across four studies, we found evidence that exaggerated perceptions of rival partisans’ support for violence are a major cause of partisans’ own support for partisan violence. Further, correcting these false beliefs reduces partisans’ support for and willingness to engage in violence, especially among those with the largest misperceptions, and this effect endured for 1 mo. These findings suggest that a simple correction of partisans’ misperceptions could be a practical and scalable way to durably reduce Americans’ support for, and intentions to engage in, partisan violence.