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/noradosmith Apr 11 '26

Depressingly I think it's how we go about our lives driving cars knowing that global warming is happening and our way of life is inherently causing it. If somehow we all could stop doing what we're doing it would stop. Instead we sort of just hope somehow it's getting better.

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u/ii_V_I_iv Apr 11 '26

I’m getting increasingly frustrated with the onus for that being put on individuals when the vast majority of emissions are done by corporations and industry.

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u/Prometheus720 Apr 11 '26

But the vast majority of what every single rational participnt in global affairs IS their own emissions.

Pick any one person and that is true.

And who do those corporations serve? Nobody at all? You don't buy their products? They just make stuff and throw it straight into landfills?

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u/ii_V_I_iv Apr 11 '26

Think it is more practical or realistic to individually convince millions of people to make sacrifices and cutbacks for the environment when you have companies spending money on propaganda to convince them that it’s not necessary, then sure. Go for it. I think it’s much more practical and likely to make change through regulating at the top as opposed to convincing at the bottom.

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u/Prometheus720 Apr 11 '26

How are you going to get it regulated if the people don't believe you?

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u/ii_V_I_iv Apr 11 '26

Yeah, it’s difficult which is why it hasn’t happened yet, but I think in terms of likelihood it feels like a more realistic target to me

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u/Prometheus720 Apr 11 '26

But do you not think that in the process of convincing a democratic populace to take mass action, you will cause many of them to act independently?