Need for Chaos and Dehumanization are Robustly Associated with Support for Partisan Violence, While Political Measures are Not

Chaotic Neutral? Framing Effects, Need for Chaos, and the Limits of ‘Burning It All Down’ in Decision Making Under Uncertainty

“…Results from both studies support our hypotheses, indicating those higher in Need for Chaos may be differently affected by strategic frames. These findings help to advance our theoretical understanding of Need for Chaos by demonstrating that-despite evidence to suggest it is associated with "dark" personality traits (Arceneaux et al 2021), willingness to share conspiracy theories regardless of partisanship, ideology, and belief (Farhart et al 2023;Petersen et al 2023), and support for partisan violence (Landry et al 2024)these individuals, when tasked with choosing between outcomes explicitly framed as potential losses, may be more motivated to avoid further losses than by the desire to "burn it all down" (Petersen et al 2023, 4).…”

“…Extant literature suggests Need for Chaos is a combination of "status-oriented personality traits" and "contexts of marginalization" (Petersen et al 2023;6). Evidence thus far indicates this combination of trait-and-state is positively associated with, yet distinct from, certain psychological traits like the dark triad and narcissism (Arceneaux et al 2021) and attitudes like support for partisan violence (Landry et al 2024). It is also associated with willingness to engage in potentially destructive behaviors like conflict-oriented decision making, taking part in illegal protests (Arceneaux et al 2021), and sharing conspiracy theories on social media (Farhart et al 2023;Petersen et al 2023).…”

“…Using data from two studies on US adults (N = 2,813; N = 3,094), which include an experimental design crafted according to Kahneman and Tversky's (1979) Prospect Theory, we examine Americans' decision making under uncertainty when presented with frames based on two similar and broadly salient political issues: the May 2023 US debt ceiling and September 2023 US government shutdown debates in the US Congress. We also test whether the Need for Chaos, i.e., those who are "disaffected with current society and their (perceived) status in it" (Petersen et al 2023, 2; see also Arceneaux et al 2021;Farhart et al 2023;Landry et al 2024), moderates framing effects. We argue that while most individuals are risk-averse toward potential gains and risk-accepting toward potential losses, those higher in Need for Chaos will perceive themselves as already "losing out" from society and the political system.…”