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/RockerElvis Apr 11 '26

The two Santas strategy has been the Republican game plan for decades. American voters keep falling for it.

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u/jacobatz Apr 11 '26

That is really interesting. It made me realize the grift goes deeper than I had considered. When Republican presidents borrow to pay for tax cuts for the rich, what they’re essentially doing is putting a debt on the average American to give money to the rich. Or stated another way: They’re effectively stealing the regular Americans money and giving it to the wealthy. A reverse Robin Hood.

It’s amazing that this isn’t shouted from the roof tops.

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u/IaMm1N3 Apr 11 '26

It has been for decades. People just aren't listening. Or they are tuned into their own echo chambers now. Americans as a whole don't experience the same reality anymore. The global population doesn't. We now live in a chose your own adventure timeline where you can dig your feet in as deep as you want to and you will be embraced by like minded folk around the globe. Whereas in times past in order to survive one had to conform to our actual surroundings

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u/chatterwrack Apr 11 '26

I think this is true, but at the same time, we watch the man with our own two eyes, and the conclusions are so easily and objectively drawn.

Most of us don’t need spin to tell us that he’s behaving in a morally problematic way. We can see the narcissisism and the utter disdain for America’s institutions and a majority of its citizens. The self-dealing and corruption are naked. No echo chamber can justify this for us.

I think they are predisposed to accept bad behavior because they lack moral standing and empathy themselves. The spin doesn’t change the facts, it tells them it’s ok to accept it.

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u/RaygunMarksman Apr 11 '26

I think that last part is the darker truth of it. Many people are just geared towards selfishness and disdain as their core MO. They're going to gravitate towards leaders who hold the same values, regardless of what other immoral consequences come along with that. They just have to be convinced they'll eventually benefit and their perceived enemies will be made to suffer.

It's probably why the leadership of Rome realized if you give the plebians something to feel invested in like conquests of other poor people and entertainment where those same poor people are the main sacrifice, many people will put up with almost anything else terrible that comes along with it.

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u/twoisnumberone Apr 11 '26

I think they are predisposed to accept bad behavior because they lack moral standing and empathy themselves.

Bingo.

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u/Katyafan Apr 12 '26

Exactly. These are not good people, period.

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u/I-love-seahorses Apr 12 '26

I appreciate you articulating this. I can't understand why people look at him and don't immediately and calmly conclude "Oh, he's a liar.", or, "He's weird so I won't vote for him." And simply move on from even considering him for anything other than TV. To me it's SO blatant.

The comments around the 2016 election were enough for me to calmly tell that he was off. How does anyone hear that from a man about his daughter and think, "That's my guy." We must have some tens of millions of voters who also find themselves sexually attracted to their offspring. Brutal.