Loneliness Corresponds with Politically Conservative Thought

Abstract

A formidable empirical literature describes loneliness as a perceived deficiency in social connection and inclusion associated with a range of mental and physical health problems and multiple maladaptive coping strategies. Many of these negative consequences can be accounted for by Cacioppo, Cacioppo, and Boomsma's evolutionary theory of loneliness, which reasons that a lack of adequate interpersonal connection is aversive because, evolutionarily, such a detriment posed threats to the ability of individuals to survive and reproduce. The theory proposes that loneliness therefore produces feelings of heightened anxiety and perceptions of vulnerability to threat that motivate individuals to attend to their relational needs. In modernity, heightened anxiety and perceptions of threat also correspond to politically conservative ideologies, such as a fear of foreigners (xenophobia), a preference for authoritarianism, and a lack of tolerance for distress. Working from the premise of Cacioppo's theory, the present study therefore reasoned that loneliness is associated with endorsement of such politically conservative values. A nationwide survey of 848 American adults confirmed that loneliness is positively correlated with xenophobia and endorsement of right-wing authoritarianism and negatively associated with distress tolerance.

Populism and Layers of Social Belonging: Support of Populist Parties in Europe

“…The right-wing populist narrative typically builds on a traditionalist worldview that aims for the preservation of the old and reduction of uncertainty, which likely corresponds with the affective reactions to loneliness. In line with that reasoning, studies were able to show that lonely individuals tend to endorse politically conservative values and that citizens who live in societies with low social cohesion are more likely to hold racist beliefs (Caller & Gorodzeisky, 2021;Floyd, 2017). Likewise, given that individuals with weak social belonging seek community, unity, and security, these desires are likely to correspond with the strong people-centric (nativist) rhetoric of right-wing populist parties in particular (March, 2017).…”

“…However, given that the stance on immigration is one of the most salient differences between right-and left-wing populist parties, it is of little surprise that some coefficients in the models drop out of significance. Moreover, since conservative values and racist beliefs are related to feelings of loneliness and social cohesion (Caller & Gorodzeisky, 2021;Floyd, 2017), immigration attitudes may be regarded as mediating the relationship between social belonging and populist voting.…”

Populism and Layers of Social Belonging: Support of Populist Parties in Europe

“…The right‐wing populist narrative typically builds on a traditionalist worldview that aims for the preservation of the old and reduction of uncertainty (Jost et al, 2003), which likely corresponds with the affective reactions to loneliness. In line with that reasoning, studies were able to show that lonely individuals tend to endorse politically conservative values and that citizens living in societies with low social cohesion are more likely to hold racist beliefs (Caller & Gorodzeisky, 2021; Floyd, 2017). Likewise, given that individuals with weak social belonging desire community and security, these desires are likely to correspond with the strong people‐centric (nativist) rhetoric of right‐wing populist parties in particular (March, 2017).…”

“…However, given that the stance on immigration is one of the most salient differences between right‐ and left‐wing populist parties, it is of little surprise that some coefficients in the models drop out of significance. Moreover, since conservative values and racist beliefs are related to feelings of loneliness and social cohesion (Caller & Gorodzeisky, 2021; Floyd, 2017), immigration attitudes may be regarded as mediating the relationship between social belonging and populist voting.…”

The influence of loneliness on perceived social belonging and trust beliefs – longitudinal evidence from the Netherlands.

“…Assuming lonely individuals feel less connected to other people and therefore not as an incremental part of society, this potentially explains a reduced perceived moral obligation to participate in the democratic process. Likewise, findings that loneliness is associated with a higher probability to sympathise with conservative beliefs and more xenophobic attitudes might directly relate to the enhanced distrust and anxiety of lonely individuals (Floyd, 2017). Furthermore, a strong sense of social connectedness is associated with pro-social behaviour and contributing to public goods such as activity in pro-environmental organizations (Cojuharenco et al, 2016) and higher salience of social values and cooperation (Triandis, 2018;Utz, 2004).…”