Sources of Stability in Social and Economic Ideological Orientations: Cohort, Context, and Construct Effects

Aleksander Ksiazkiewicz, Robert Klemmensen, Christopher T. Dawes, Kaare Christensen, Matt McGue, Robert F. Krueger, Asbjørn Sonne Nørgaard

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    Abstract

    Existing research shows that ideological orientations are stable after young adulthood. Extending research on the sources of ideological stability, we examine social and economic ideology over a 3- to 4-year period in two twin panels (one Danish and one American). We find evidence for the importance of genetic influences and individual life experiences on the stability of social ideology in both contexts; shared environmental factors play an important role in the younger, Danish sample only. For economic ideology, genetic factors contribute to stability in the American sample only. Our findings show that the role of genetic and environmental factors in the stability of ideological orientations varies by type of ideology, national context, and, possibly, age cohort.

    Original languageEnglish (US)
    Pages (from-to)711-731
    Number of pages21
    JournalInternational Journal of Public Opinion Research
    Volume32
    Issue number4
    DOIs
    StatePublished - 2020

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Sociology and Political Science

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