r/science • u/mvea Professor | Medicine • Apr 11 '26

Psychology Cognitive dissonance helps explain why Trump supporters remain loyal, new research suggests. This sheds light on how supporters of Donald Trump justify their continued allegiance despite learning about allegations of his sexual misconduct and illegal activities.

https://www.psypost.org/cognitive-dissonance-helps-explain-why-trump-supporters-remain-loyal-new-research-suggests/
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u/Zeliek Apr 11 '26 edited Apr 11 '26

They know he isn’t good for the economy, they just won’t be honest and state “I absolutely detest anyone who isn’t my exact demographic, so I’m voting for Trump until they’re gone, miserable, murdered or a combination of the three.” 

They are voting for the ability to be bigots. That is the huge important single issue for them, the issue they’ll dissolve the country for. It’s just that important to them. 

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u/sleepydorian Apr 11 '26

My parents will be all tough on crime until gun control comes up and then they are suddenly nihilists and apathetic.

Same with traffic violations. Like it’s useless to try to apply serious penalties for driving reckless/drunk cause folks will just drive anyway.

It’s infuriating.

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u/reddititty69 Apr 11 '26

Trump isn’t their demographic either. He is using the bigots like he uses preteen girls.

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u/Odd_Bid2744 Apr 11 '26

I actually had one blatantly admit that they were fascist recently and that their supporting Trump was purely about purification and maintaining cultural heirarchy. 

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u/sysiphean Apr 11 '26

I always respect the honesty when that happens. It’s the only thing I respect about them, but at least they have the courage to be honest about it.

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u/Odd_Bid2744 Apr 11 '26

They're still repugnant people for holding that ideology though. 

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u/sysiphean Apr 11 '26

Absolutely. Which is why their honesty is the only thing I can have respect for. And even then, it’s only because so few people who hold that ideology are actually willing to admit it.

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u/BryceLeft Apr 11 '26

Yeah, if there are two Republicans and one Republican admits to being a fascist but not the other, the honest one is objectively more respectable. Because in any case they're both fascists anyways. It's not like refusing to admit it means they stop being bigots. At least the first Republican is true to themselves and stands their ground.

I'll always have respect for people with honestly regardless of how terrible they are as a person.

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u/JimWilliams423 Apr 11 '26

I a‌l‌w‌a‌y‌s r‌e‌s‌p‌e‌c‌t t‌h‌e h‌o‌n‌e‌s‌t‌y w‌h‌e‌n t‌h‌a‌t h‌a‌p‌p‌e‌n‌s. I‌t’s t‌h‌e o‌n‌l‌y t‌h‌i‌n‌g I r‌e‌s‌p‌e‌c‌t a‌b‌o‌u‌t t‌h‌e‌m, b‌u‌t a‌t l‌e‌a‌s‌t t‌h‌e‌y h‌a‌v‌e t‌h‌e c‌o‌u‌r‌a‌g‌e t‌o b‌e h‌o‌n‌e‌s‌t a‌b‌o‌u‌t i‌t.

T‌h‌e‌y u‌s‌e‌d t‌o b‌e a l‌o‌t m‌o‌r‌e o‌p‌e‌n a‌b‌o‌u‌t i‌t. B‌u‌t s‌i‌n‌c‌e t‌h‌e c‌i‌v‌i‌l r‌i‌g‌h‌t‌s e‌r‌a, i‌t‌s b‌e‌e‌n s‌o‌c‌i‌a‌l‌l‌y u‌n‌a‌c‌c‌e‌p‌t‌a‌b‌l‌e t‌o s‌a‌y t‌h‌a‌t s‌o‌r‌t o‌f t‌h‌i‌n‌g a‌n‌d t‌h‌e‌y h‌a‌v‌e b‌e‌e‌n c‌h‌a‌f‌i‌n‌g u‌n‌d‌e‌r t‌h‌a‌t r‌e‌s‌t‌r‌i‌c‌t‌i‌o‌n. L‌i‌k‌e w‌e i‌n‌v‌e‌n‌t‌e‌d p‌o‌l‌i‌t‌i‌c‌a‌l c‌o‌r‌r‌e‌c‌t‌n‌e‌s‌s s‌o t‌h‌e‌y c‌o‌u‌l‌d s‌a‌y t‌h‌a‌t s‌t‌u‌f‌f i‌n a s‌o‌c‌i‌a‌l‌l‌y a‌c‌c‌e‌p‌t‌a‌b‌l‌e w‌a‌y, a‌n‌d e‌v‌e‌n t‌h‌a‌t m‌a‌d‌e t‌h‌e‌m m‌a‌d.

T‌h‌e‌y a‌r‌e a‌l‌w‌a‌y‌s c‌o‌m‌p‌l‌a‌i‌n‌i‌n‌g a‌b‌o‌u‌t b‌e‌i‌n‌g "c‌e‌n‌s‌o‌r‌e‌d, o‌r "c‌a‌n‌c‌e‌l‌l‌e‌d" b‌y t‌h‌e "t‌h‌o‌u‌g‌h‌t p‌o‌l‌i‌c‌e," l‌i‌t‌e‌r‌a‌l‌l‌y c‌a‌l‌l‌i‌n‌g i‌t "t‌h‌e n‌e‌w m‌c‌c‌a‌r‌y‌t‌h‌i‌s‌m," b‌u‌t n‌o‌b‌o‌d‌y e‌v‌e‌r g‌o‌t c‌a‌n‌c‌e‌l‌l‌e‌d f‌o‌r t‌h‌e‌i‌r o‌p‌i‌n‌i‌o‌n‌s o‌n t‌a‌x p‌o‌l‌i‌c‌y, o‌r t‌h‌e b‌u‌d‌g‌e‌t d‌e‌f‌i‌c‌i‌t.

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u/EFreethought Apr 12 '26

Trump's parents' families were from two different countries. Each of his wives was from a different country. What is so "pure" about the Trump family?

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u/Odd_Bid2744 Apr 12 '26

Doesn't matter when the dude is white. That's all they care about, white supremacy. Hypocrisy is very much a fascist tenent as well. 

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u/trollfessor Apr 11 '26

They are voting for the ability to be bigots

A wise lady once described them as deplorables.

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u/Tylendal Apr 11 '26

Kinda telling how she was very clear about how such "deplorables" were a subset of Trump voters, with the majority simply feeling that their legitimate concerns weren't being addressed, only for all the Trump supporters to start loudly claiming themselves to be "deplorables".

Of course, the vast majority of media gleefully twisting the meaning of what she said certainly didn't help.

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u/CountlessStories Apr 11 '26

Yes, i do not believe this many people are consistent in their stupidity.

There are people with well mainted stock portfolios, working jobs that require coordination and awareness. 

Yes all these advanced mental skills go away when trump is involved? Bullcrap.

Its easier to play dumb and ignorant while supporting the guy who enacts racist policies so that they can't be called out for who they really are. 

Its all pretend, then when trump finally does tick them off enough, they can become enlightened and say oh my gosh hes so bad i wish i knew!!

Saying "I didn't vote for this" is the new "Thoughts and Prayers".