The Impact of Uncertainty, Threat, and Political Identity on Support for Political Compromise

Authors

Ingrid J. Haas, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

2016

Citation

Published in Basic and Applied Social Psychology, 2016. doi 10.1080/01973533.2016.1169181

Comments

Copyright © 2016 Taylor & Francis. Used by permission

Abstract

This work examines the impact of uncertainty and threat on support for political compromise. In Study 1, uncertainty, threat, and support for compromise were measured. Uncertainty increased support for compromise only when paired with positive or neutral affect. Studies 2 and 3 used an experimental design to examine the impact of incidental affect on support for political compromise as a function of political identification. Uncertainty was more likely to increase support for compromise in positive or neutral contexts and for political moderates and liberals. The combination of uncertainty and threat led conservatives to express reduced support for compromise.