What drives ideological shifts

An informal study about why people abandon old political beliefs.

Why do people change their minds? That’s a question I’ve been interested in for quite some time.

In an era of deepening political polarization, understanding why and how individuals shift their ideological views offers insights into social dynamics and potential paths to bridge divides. That’s why several years ago (in 2021 to be exact), I had conducted an informal study, based on 69 respondents who self-reported changing their political ideologies—exploring the triggers, processes, and emotional impacts.

It’s important to note that this sample, recruited via social media (primarily Twitter), is not representative of the general population and skews toward those disillusioned with left-leaning ideologies, with ~85% moving from left to right or center rather than the reverse. However, it still reveals powerful patterns in personal and societal triggers for change.

Combining qualitative narratives with quantitative metrics (e.g., happiness, confidence scales), this (again, informal) study …