Research Reveals Trump Voters Lack Cognitive Reflection and May Have a Lot of Other Negative Traits.

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Research Reveals Trump Voters Lack Cognitive Reflection and May Have a Lot of Other Negative Traits.

Have you recently seen the bunch of MAGA supporters who recently paraded twitter with their claims on how George Floyd died?

maarthandam.com

Have you recently seen the bunch of MAGA supporters who recently paraded twitter with their claims on how George Floyd died by Fentanyl poisoning and not by his neck being pressed by a cop for nine minutes straight?

What drives their choices? Why do they seem to defy traditional political analysis? We decided to search the web, and we came across a plethora of articles and research papers that dive into the heads. These research articles and survey reveal a lot of traits about Trump’s supporters.

Low Information Voters​

Donald Trump distinctively attracted unprecedented levels of support from “low-information voters.” His campaign exploited a void of facts and reasoning among these voters. These voters were made more vulnerable to relying on emotions (about Mexican immigrants, Muslim refugees, African-American citizens, and disdain for Barack Obama and Biden ) rather than facts.

This was quite visible in 2016 before Trump’s first term, and 9 years later, it is the same. The fact that Trump voters thought tariffs would be paid by firms says a lot about low information prevalence.

Lack of Rational Policy Debates​

A research paper by Richard Fording notes that Trump’s campaign defied traditional campaign methods and norms, including his lack of a well-defined policy platform, reliance on “shocking, inflammatory, and often racist language,” and direct appeals to his base through rallies and social media, bypassing traditional media.

Empirical sources other than Fording’s also suggest that Trump voters in 2025 are blinded by religious and discriminatory feelings having no valid basis in the real world. They are less likely to engage in rational debates and more likely to blame the previous president [ “Biden’s stock market”] rather than speaking logically.

Voters had Negative Cognitive Sophistication​

A research by Darren Sherkat, a notable alumni of South Illinois University found that cognitive sophistication had a positive effect on voting in general, but a negative effect on choosing Trump. In other words, higher cognitive sophistication was associated with a lower likelihood of voting for Trump.

Does that sound confusing? In simple terms, people who have high cognitive sophistication tend to think more rationally and scientifically. The research says, rational people are in favour of voting, but not for Trump.

Less Educated​

A research by Brian F. Schaffner says that Trump supporters were found to be significantly less likely to hold a college degree than people who voted for other candidates. While cognitive sophistication and college degrees generally increase the likelihood of voting, the positive effect of cognitive sophistication on voting applied equally to Trump and Clinton/other candidates. However, college degree attainment was more predictive of choosing Clinton/other compared to not voting, unlike for Trump.

High Neuroticism​

Sanaz Talaifar published her findings on psychological traits and other factors contributing to Trump’s support. It identified higher levels of neuroticism—a personality trait characterized by negative emotions like anxiety, fear, and anger—among people living in regions that voted for Trump. It also highlights a lack of a college degree as a factor, which can be indirectly related to cognitive or information processing styles.

Civil War Type​

A study by Garen et al on a sample size of over 7000+ people revealed that MAGA Supporters were more likely to endorse political violence and believed that “in the next few years, there will be civil war in the United States”. You got a neighbour that believes in tariffs? Probably, they believe in a civil war too.

RWA, SDO, & Narcissism​

A study by Joshua Hart and Nathaniel investigated the mediating roles of Right-Wing Authoritarianism (RWA) and Social Dominance Orientation (SDO) in the relationship between individual differences in narcissism and support for Donald Trump. Narcissism predisposes individuals to Right-Wing Authoritarianism and Social Dominance Orientation. These attitudes, in turn, drive the adoption of socially and economically conservative policies, specifically leading to support for anti-immigration stances. This alignment with conservative and anti-immigration views is what directly translates into voting for Donald Trump.

Unfortunately Racist​

A core distinction is the differing perception of ongoing racial inequality. Research by Pew Research Center (June 2024) highlights a stark divide – only 22% of Trump supporters believe that White people benefit at least a fair amount from advantages in society that Black people do not have, compared to 80% of Biden supporters. Similarly, only 27% of Trump supporters believe the legacy of slavery continues to affect Black people today (vs. 79% of Biden supporters).

By denying the existence of systemic advantages for white people or the lingering impact of historical injustices like slavery, this segment of Trump voters effectively dismisses the need for policies designed to address racial inequality

Anti-DEI and Shun Diversity​

A survey by Pew Research indicates that more than seven in ten trump supporters are willing to end diversity, equity and inclusion policies. his high percentage indicates a strong alignment among Trump’s base with an anti-DEI stance, as they favor the discontinuation of such policies at the federal level. A direct comparison is made with the Democrats, where 86% disapprove of ending the diversity programs.

Final Words​

The picture that emerges from all this research is pretty consistent, and frankly, has been since 2016. We’re looking at a segment of the electorate that often operates with low information, isn’t keen on rational policy debates, and shows specific cognitive and psychological traits like higher neuroticism and a propensity for certain authoritarian leanings.

When you add in the deeply concerning trends of racial denial and a strong rejection of diversity, equity, and inclusion, it’s clear we’re dealing with a distinctive and impactful voting bloc. For anyone in politics trying to make sense of the current landscape, these insights aren’t just academic—they’re crucial for understanding the road ahead.