Ability-related political polarization in the COVID-19 pandemic.

ABSTRACT: In two large-scale longitudinal datasets (combined N = 5761), we investigated ability-related political polarization in responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. We observed more polarization with greater ability in emotional responses, risk perceptions, and product-purchase intentions across five waves of data collection with a diverse, convenience sample from February 2020 through July 2020 (Study 1, N = 1267). Specifically, more liberal participants had more negative emotional responses and greater risk perceptions of COVID-19 than conservative participants. Compared to conservatives, liberal participants also interpreted quantitative information as indicating higher COVID-19 risk and sought COVID-related news more from liberal than conservative news media. Of key importance, we

SUBMITTER: Shoots-Reinhard B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8455947 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Sep-Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature