Political polarization: a curse of knowledge?

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

Could the curse of knowledge influence how antagonized we are towards political outgroups? Do we assume others know what we know but still disagree with us? This research investigates how the curse of knowledge may affect us politically, i.e., be a cause of political polarization.

Background

Research on the curse of knowledge has shown that even when people are incentivized to act as if others do not know what they know, they are still influenced by the knowledge they have.

Methods

This study consists of five studies consisting of both experimental and non-experimental and within- and between-subjects survey designs. Each study collected samples of 152-1,048.

Results

Partisans on both sides overestimate the extent to which stories from their news source

SUBMITTER: Beattie P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10368969 | biostudies-literature | 2023

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature