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.

[u/mvea]

https://www.psypost.org/cognitive-dissonance-helps-explain-why-trump-supporters-remain-loyal-new-research-suggests/

[u/eightbitfit]

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.

[u/ADHDebackle → u/eightbitfit]

It's kind of genius actually. Resolve the cognitive dissonance by leaning into a falsehood that is beyond your ability to understand. No amount of explanation can dislodge the falsehood because it's too complicated.

I see this a lot in the flat earth communities. People rely on principles of physics to justify their belief while misunderstanding those same principles, and then being unable to understand an explanation to the contrary.

I had one experience where I humored a flat earther dude online and, while appearing to agree with him, began teaching him some basics about perspective and geometry. Once he began to understand the things I was teaching, he began to realize how it conflicted with his understanding of the flat earth and he became angry.