Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 14, 2025

Continuous Theta Burst Stimulation of the Posterior Medial Frontal Cortex to Experimentally Reduce Ideological Threat Responses
Published on: September 28, 2018
Liberal-conservative asymmetries in anti-democratic tendencies are partly explained by psychological differences in a
Débora de Oliveira Santos1, John T Jost2
1Department of Political Science, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. dos.deborasantos@gmail.com.
Abstract:
Based on theory and research in political psychology, we hypothesized that liberal-conservative differences in right-wing authoritarianism, social dominance orientation, and political system justification would contribute to asymmetries in anti-democratic tendencies. These hypotheses were tested in a nationally representative survey of U.S. adults (N = 1557). Results revealed that conservatives were less supportive of political equality and legal rights and guarantees and more willing to defect from democratic "rules of the game" and vote for anti-democratic candidates, even after adjusting for political extremism. Mediational analyses suggested that conservatives' anti-democratic tendencies were partially attributable to higher levels of right-wing authoritarianism and social dominance orientation. Conservatives also scored higher in political system justification, which was associated with support for free speech and mitigated anti-democratic tendencies. Democrats and Republicans who approved January 6, 2021, insurrectionists were more conservative and higher in right-wing authoritarianism than those who did not. Implications for social psychology and society are discussed.
Related Concept Videos
Social Proof
Stereotypes, Prejudice, and Discrimination
Fundamental Attribution Error
Surveys
Cultural Influences on Personality
Self-Discrepancy Theory

