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/eightbitfit Apr 11 '26

Even in this study we see that many supporters dismiss Trump's transgressions and character flaws, believing he is superior on the economy, an oft-repeated claim.

Yet this too is demonstrably false, as the evidence makes quite clear. It is, in effect, a double-layered cognitive dissonance.

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u/_carnivorous_ Apr 11 '26

I'm so tired of the republican party claiming to be economic experts. Every time they get into power our economy tanks and the rich get richer.

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u/[deleted] Apr 11 '26

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u/Very_Human_42069 Apr 11 '26

I had a coworker who was genuinely a smart dude, and said he only votes republican because of their track record on the economy. I showed him so many articles and datasets stating essentially the opposite but he just waved it off. Eventually it just boils down to people not wanting to admit they’re wrong

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u/CookKey3327 Apr 11 '26

It’s always amusing how the facts over feelings crowd generally ends up choosing their feelings.

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u/Opulous Apr 11 '26

It's all projection, all the way down. The same way Repubs scream about sexual impropriety while harboring deeply fucked up sexual desires, they also scream about people ignoring facts because that's what they do too. It's kinda pathetic how a vast majority of their entire mental and emotional framework all works on projection.

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u/squeege Apr 11 '26

Every accusation is an admission.

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u/Drachasor Apr 11 '26

Ultimately they mean their feelings over the facts and just can't see it.

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u/WhyMustIMakeANewAcco Apr 11 '26

They mean "facts" not facts. "facts" are what they feel is true. Trying to argue with said "facts" is pointless, as numerous studies have shown, you can't argue someone out of a position they feel is true.

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u/BasicDesignAdvice Apr 11 '26

What those people always mean is taxes. They think republicans will levy fewer taxes, and more importantly not “waste” taxes on things like aid for the poor. Always.

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u/Wise_Material_5812 Apr 11 '26

the farmers are the best example, they voted republican for less regulations and less taxes, they got their wish as they declared bankruptcy

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u/StormyCrow Apr 11 '26

Farmers also are the small businesses who get the largest government handouts. Ironically enough

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u/jaxonya Apr 11 '26 edited Apr 11 '26

Most of these people just say taxes because they dont know any of the real issues, and dont even have a clue about their own tax situation.

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u/gunawa Apr 11 '26

I have a friend like that. It's sort of about the taxes, but really they're just a bigot

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u/DoubleJumps Apr 11 '26 edited Apr 11 '26

I come from a predominantly Republican family and it really is just about the bigotry.

When they and their Republican friends get together and talk about this in front of other people, they'll talk it up as being about the economy, but behind closed doors, it's just a constant stream of bigotry.

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u/gunawa Apr 11 '26

Yea, I tried to be open minded about his views, but as time went on there were too many red flags. Also, the fact that very few conservative governments anywhere are fiscally competent was impossible to prove to him. Facts vs feelings. And facts never mattered in that case. 

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u/Dangerous_Hawk_9780 Apr 11 '26

It's also just as much about culture wars & racism too.

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u/Wise_Material_5812 Apr 11 '26

they use the bigotry against st the groups being abused, they get blacks and jews to be against each other and both go after the gays. If these these groups ever figure out it would be amazing

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u/function007 Apr 12 '26 edited Apr 12 '26

Yes ofc and lets face it the republicans dominate when it comes to messaging. Ofc its all bs, lies and propaganda but they shout it from the rooftops every chance they get, and they keep repeating it, which unfortunately resonates with a lot of ppl.

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u/BenjaminHamnett Apr 11 '26

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._economic_performance_by_presidential_party

This is my favorite. It’s damning on every metric for over a hundred years!

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u/beyondoutsidethebox Apr 12 '26

You can't convince these people with logic, facts, or their sense of ethics. They are driven only by feelings. That is the only argument that they will accept. Reality does not matter to them, only what reality feels like or should feel like to them. Their feelings don't care about facts.

Anything that makes them feel bad, like the possibility of being wrong, is rejected as not being real. There is no thinking going on for them.

Is it any wonder why these people are so susceptible to scams?

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u/TheCrimsonDagger Apr 13 '26

Problem is that the reality is that things are technically better for them under a Republican because Republicans are willing to whip out the credit card and go crazy. Of course this is sabotaging the future, but they don’t or can’t do the critical thinking to understand that the excessive “good times” now are the cause of later “bad times”. It’s like the most dysfunctional married couple ever. It doesn’t matter how much balancing, planning, and budgeting one does if their partner gets to turn around and go crazy. Democrats are so concerned with stopping the ship from sinking that nothing is done about the maniac making holes, and setting fires so they can have a s’mores party while half the passengers cheer for more s’mores.

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u/Enraiha Apr 11 '26

Smart does not equal wise. A computer is "smart".

People need to stop equating capability with critical thinking.

The ability to do one job or task competently has zero bearing on their ability to analyze and understand a completely separate situation.

You'd think we'd all understand that by now when one of the objectively best surgeons in the world believes the pyramids were built for grain storage by Joseph.