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 - Dec 23 2020

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Sociology and Political Science

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Sources of Stability in Social and Economic Ideological Orientations: Cohort, Context, and Construct Effects'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this