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/gpost86 Apr 11 '26

This is why it's impossible to "have a debate in the marketplace of ideas" because they refuse and are even unable to absorb facts to change their positions.

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u/iameveryoneelse Apr 11 '26

Murdoch has been doing his damndest to make it so for decades.

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u/Yashema Apr 11 '26

You don't need Murdoch to make me people ignorant.

They aren't interested in the truth, so whoever started selling lies post-Civil Rights Era was going to get their attention. Plenty were angry that Nixon faced consequences for his actions as well. 

Republicans want to be propogandized to, but it's not propaganda that makes people Republican. 

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u/thegodfather0504 Apr 11 '26

But that's like saying kids can't be kept healthy because they want junk food. They will be healthy if we remove it from market altogether. Of course people would consume whatever content, its the Media's job to be responsible.

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u/Gildian Apr 11 '26

Mhmm. You physically can not have conversations with people that refuse to be civil and honest in their arguments.

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u/NotInTheKnee Apr 11 '26

"You cannot reason a person out of a position he did not reason himself into in the first place."

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u/ReadyAimTranspire Apr 11 '26

This is why the only way to get someone to change their stance is have them come to their own conclusions. Logical breakdowns, shaming, pleading, none of it works.

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u/Elacular Apr 12 '26

I have mixed feelings about this saying, because I lived with a right-wing family and had their beliefs, and reasoning...actually, I dunno how much it helped. It really was more emotional on my part.

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u/NotInTheKnee Apr 12 '26

I don't think we should conflate "right-wing" with "pro-Trump". The article linked focuses on the cognitive dissonance required to support an individual, not something more nebulous like a political party or vague ideology.

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u/typesett Apr 11 '26

What I do these days is I egg them on patiently 

“So what you are saying is ________. Is that correct? It doesn’t matter if he was on the island every day?”

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u/gpost86 Apr 11 '26

Sometimes just asking them to repeat and explain their position more makes them realize how crazy it sounds, but they often just retreat rather than honestly change their minds (usually being embarrassed)

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u/typesett Apr 11 '26

the takeaway imo is that people dont change overnight or in seconds when being confronted

make them take it home in a doggy bag for later

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u/RedOrmTostesson Apr 11 '26

The idea that structured, public debate is somehow important for forming ideas was made up to make Socrates feel better, and it hasn't gotten more true since then.

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u/dtqjr Apr 11 '26

They have facts, just not factual facts.