Understanding factual belief polarization: the role of trust, political sophistication, and affective polarization
Open accessAbstract
Political opponents are often divided not only in their attitudes (i.e., ideological polarization) and their feelings toward each other (i.e., affective polarization), but also in their factual perceptions of reality (i.e., factual belief polarization). This paper describes factual belief polarization in the Netherlands around three core issues. Furthermore, this paper examines who are most susceptible to this type of polarization. Analyses on the 2021 Dutch Parliamentary Election Study reveal that citizens hold different perceptions than their political opponents about income inequality, immigration, and climate change. This type of polarization is strongest among citizens who have hostile feelings toward their political opponents and, paradoxically, among those who are highly educated and interested in politics. Trust in epistemic authorities did not mitigate factual belief polarization, perhaps because this trust has itself become politicized. These findings underline that factual belief polarization constitutes a core pillar of political polarization, alongside ideological and affective polarization.
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- Authors
- Rekker, R., & Harteveld, E.
- Affiliations
- University of Gothenburg (SE)
- University of Amsterdam (NL)
- Corresponding author
- Rekker, Roderik
- Venue
- Acta Politica
- Published
- 2022-10-20
- Volume
- 59
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 643-670
- ISSN
- 0001-6810 (ISSN-L)
- 1741-1416
- PMC
- PMC9584229
- OpenAlex
- W4306924846
- Cited by
- 32
- References
- 55
- Citations by year
- 2026: 8 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 5
- FWCI
- 19.60
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Locations
- Acta Politica (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- UvA-DARE (University of Amsterdam) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- Funders
- Riksbankens Jubileumsfond (M18-0310:1)
- Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek (016.Veni.195.159)
- University of Gothenburg
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Political Science and International Relations › Electoral Systems and Political Participation
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Misinformation and Its Impacts
- Social Sciences › Political Science and International Relations › Populism, Right-Wing Movements
- Keywords
- affective polarization, ideological polarization, political polarization, political sophistication, political interest, income inequality, immigration, climate change
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