Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 29, 2026
07:01
Experimental Paradigm for Measuring the Effects of Self-distancing in Young Children
Published on: March 1, 2019
8.6K
A Nation Veering off Course: Implications for Efficacy and Well-Being
Kristina G Chamberlin1, J Doris Dai2, Hannah F Ramil3
1Department of Psychology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA.
Behavioral Sciences (Basel, Switzerland)
|March 28, 2026
Summary
Americans concerned about the US political climate experience lower personal and government efficacy. This bipartisan concern negatively impacts psychological functioning and well-being.
Area of Science:
- Political Psychology
- Social Psychology
- American Politics
Background:
- The United States experienced significant political changes in 2025.
- National polls reveal widespread public concern about the country's direction across political affiliations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the psychological impact of concerns regarding the US political climate.
- To examine the relationship between perceptions of political decline and individual well-being.
Main Methods:
- A preregistered study involving over 7000 US adults.
- Assessed beliefs about the political climate, national values, individual efficacy, government efficacy, well-being, and coping mechanisms.
Main Results:
- Belief in a worsening political climate and national decline correlated with lower individual and government efficacy.
- Reduced efficacy was linked to poorer psychological well-being and less effective coping with political stressors.
- These associations remained significant regardless of 2024 presidential vote choice or party affiliation.
Conclusions:
- Perceived political turbulence negatively affects psychological and social health in a bipartisan manner.
- Concerns about the nation's direction have tangible consequences for individual functioning and well-being.
Related Concept Videos
02:45Self-Discrepancy Theory
19.1K
One influential perspective on what motivates people's behavior is detailed in Tory Higgin's self-discrepancy theory (Higgins, 1987). He proposed that people hold disagreeing internal representations of themselves that lead to different emotional states.
19.1K
01:29Self-Discrepancy and Its Effects
449
Self-discrepancy theory explains how people compare their actual self to their ideal and ought selves and how mismatches between these self-guides can lead to emotional distress. Developed by E. Tory Higgins, the theory distinguishes among three components of self-concept: the actual self, the ideal self, and the ought self. These refer respectively to how individuals perceive themselves, how they aspire to be, and how they believe they are obligated to be. Emotional well-being, self-esteem,...
449
01:28Ending Relationships
247
The dissolution of intimate relationships presents complex emotional and psychological challenges, particularly when emotional bonds are strong, the relationship is long-standing, and perceived alternatives are limited. This distress often intensifies in romantic breakups, where the initiator may experience greater turmoil than the rejected partner. Contributing factors include residual attachment, guilt over causing pain, and uncertainty about how to manage the situation. The stress is further...
247
01:21Self-Awareness and Its Effects
380
Self-awareness is a psychological state in which the individual becomes the focal point of their attention. This inward focus transforms the self into an object of contemplation and assessment, influencing how individuals perceive their actions and their alignment with personal and societal standards.Triggers and Contexts for Self-AwarenessSelf-awareness can be activated by external stimuli that make individuals visually or audibly aware of themselves, such as mirrors, cameras, or recordings.
380
01:52Regression Toward the Mean
7.3K
Regression toward the mean (“RTM”) is a phenomenon in which extremely high or low values—for example, and individual’s blood pressure at a particular moment—appear closer to a group’s average upon remeasuring. Although this statistical peculiarity is the result of random error and chance, it has been problematic across various medical, scientific, financial and psychological applications. In particular, RTM, if not taken into account, can interfere when...
7.3K
01:38Cognitive Dissonance
37.9K
Social psychologists have documented that feeling good about ourselves and maintaining positive self-esteem is a powerful motivator of human behavior (Tavris & Aronson, 2008). In the United States, members of the predominant culture typically think very highly of themselves and view themselves as good people who are above average on many desirable traits (Ehrlinger, Gilovich, & Ross, 2005). Often, our behavior, attitudes, and beliefs are affected when we experience a threat to our...
37.9K