Extreme Appeal: Voters Trust Extreme Positions More Than Moderate Ones, Study Finds
Friday, August 8, 2008 - 13:28
in Psychology & Sociology
Trying to appear moderate is not always the best strategy for capturing votes during an election, reveals a new study. Extreme positions can build trust among an electorate, who value ideological commitment in times of uncertainty. "A rational electorate is reluctant to support someone who does not exhibit commitment to some ideology," says USC economist Juan Carrillo. "Voters rightly perceive that someone without ideological commitment cannot have developed a valuable political program."