When people anywhere on the political spectrum hold extreme policy opinions, merely asking them to explain how the policies work leads them to moderate their views. Researchers asked volunteers to rate their own positions using a scale of 1 (strongly against) to 7 (strongly in favor) on such policy issues as a flat tax, merit pay for teachers and a higher Social Security retirement age. Participants were asked to rate their own stances a second time after being asked to explain some of the policies.
Not only were extreme positions moderated, but participants in another, similar experiment were less likely to donate to an advocacy group. "The evidence suggests that people's mistaken sense that they understand the causal processes underlying policies contributes to political polarization," the researchers wrote.
"Political Extremism Is Supported by an Illusion of Understanding," Philip M. Fernbach, Todd Rogers, Craig R. Fox and Steven A. Sloman, Psychological Science
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