Who Supports Political Violence?

The last few years have witnessed an increase in democratic “backsliding” the United States—a decline quality of democracy, typically accompanied by influx non-normative behavior, such as political violence. Despite real consequences support for violence, fairly little is known about extremist attitude outside studies terrorism or aggression. Using a unique survey containing many psychological, political, and social characteristics, we find that perceived victimhood, authoritarianism, populism, white identity are most powerful predictors though military service, conspiratorial thinking, anxiety, feelings powerlessness also related. These patterns suggest subjective being unjustly victimized—irrespective truth matter—and psychological baggage accompanies lie at heart We use these results to build profile characteristics explain violence; predictive validity this then tested examining its relationship with January 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol riot, which it strongly associated, even accounting Donald Trump. Our findings implications detection attitudes our understanding non-partisan/ideological foundations anti-social behavior.