Behavioral science of voting in hypothetical utopia and dystopia scenarios: a predictive modeling approach.

ABSTRACT: We investigated how near-future utopia and dystopia scenarios affect electorates' valuation of the leading Finnish politicians in the multiparty democracy. Using an online questionnaire with 1,109 respondents, we collected valuations across six attributes (e.g., trustworthiness, suitability as prime minister) both at baseline and after random assignment to a scenario. Valuations were first made for the present day and second in a near-future scenario. The strongest predictors for the electorates' valuations were the party, gender, and familiarity of the candidate, as well as liberal or conservative attitudes of the voter. Conversely, the effect of the scenarios was found to be weaker, and both scenarios tended to reduce the valuations of politicians. Devoted voters were less likely to chan

SUBMITTER: Kauttonen J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12833430 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature