The political psychology of ideology

Scholars have long questioned the prevalence of constrained belief systems in the public. Yet research in political psychology illustrates the consequential role of ideology in politics. We reconcile these separate traditions by arguing that, although most citizens fail to demonstrate the operational components of ideological constraint, the symbolic, identity-based aspects of ideology are an omnipotent force impacting public opinion. We then discuss the underlying epistemic, existential and relational origins of the symbolic component of ideology to show that conservatism meets the need to manage uncertainty, avoid threat and belong to a group, respectively. Next, we examine the palliative effects of conservatism on wellbeing, followed by a discussion on the implications of ideology for social change. We conclude by suggesting directions for future research. Throughout our chapter, we argue that, although only a small proportion of the public demonstrates the operational features of ideology (i.e., functionally interdependent beliefs), the symbolic component of ideology (i.e., self-identification as liberal or conservative) is alive and well.