Extremism at the center

Uncovering political diversity among midpoint responders on the left–right self‐placement item

Dados Bibliográficos

ID7972017
AutoresEdward J R Clarke (0000-0002-6441-7150, Department of Psychology, Work Group for Social Psychology Philipps‐Universität Marburg Marburg Germany, autor correspondente), Frank Eckerle (0000-0002-6170-1260, Department of Psychology University of Klagenfurt Klagenfurt am Wörthersee Austria), James R Kerr (0000-0002-6606-5507, Department of Public Health University of Otago Wellington New Zealand), Stephen R Hill (0000-0002-9037-8212, School of Psychology Massey University ‐ Albany Palmerston North New Zealand), Mathew Ling (0000-0002-0940-2538, Neami National Preston Australia), Mathew D Marques (0000-0002-5486-650X, School of Psychology and Public Health La Trobe University Melbourne Australia), Matt N Williams (0000-0002-0571-215X, School of Psychology Massey University ‐ Albany Palmerston North New Zealand)
Ano2025
Data de publicação2025-10-22
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoPolitical Psychology (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 0162-895X • E-ISSN: 1467-9221
EditoraWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/pops.70082
OpenAlexW4415455311
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas1
Referências citadas42

The midpoint of the left‐right self‐placement item is hiding important political diversity, and may be conflating moderate responders with populists and other political sub‐groups. Survey researchers should consider this problem when examining relationships between political orientation and political attitudes. We suggest testing for non‐linearity in these relationships, and measuring anti‐establishment and populist beliefs separately. Researchers interested in building theories explaining the psychological underpinnings of ideological extremism should also consider the possibility that a qualitatively different type of ideological extremist self‐places on the midpoint

Electoral Systems and Political Participation · Migration, Refugees, and Integration · Populism, Right-Wing Movements