A study by the University of Queensland has yielded very interesting results on the factors that influence people’s decisions at the time of political elections. According to the results of the study, when people think that society is morally divided and fragmented, people are much more likely to choose unorthodox leaders who are likely to shake up the current political system.
Speaking about the results, Dr. from the UQ School of Psychology. Charlie Crimston stated that if people feel the need to restore the moral order, they can vote outside of their political orientation.
The perception that society is divided is a greater threat than actual social divisions.
In the research, which is based on 4 different examples and two separate studies, and using an empirically constructed society paradigm, the causal link between moral polarization and the desire to choose conservative/authoritarian and progressive/democratic strong leaders; The potential political consequences of high perceived moral polarization in two-party liberal democracies were highlighted. The research also adds to the growing body of research highlighting the role of societal factors in fostering support for strong leaders.
“The study found that if people believe there is a breakdown in the social fabric, they are more likely to choose an authoritarian figure like Donald Trump or Pauline Hanson to restore order,” Crimston said, adding that his research shows political leaders with far-flung ideas about moral divide and a potential solution to it. He also underlined that it is the first research to prove that there is a cause-effect relationship between the desire to choose. In addition, Crimston notes that if there is a sense of lack of leadership in society, voters may be more likely to choose a leader who can unite and steer the country in a new direction.
Professor Jolanda Jetten, on the article that examines the basic values of groups such as right and left voters in Australia, the USA and the UK, and the perception that opposing groups have incompatible moral values, stated that this perception is the basis of the idea that society is a war between good and evil. According to Jetten, the perception that society is divided poses a much greater threat than the actual social divisions.
Dr. Hema Preya Selvanathan also agrees with Jetten, stating that what threatens social cohesion and political stability is our perception that society is increasingly divided and its moral fabric is crumbling. Selvanathan also; He warns that the aggregate should be particularly wary of those who use them for their own benefit, whether they are politicians, media commentators or interest groups.
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