Dual Roles of Political Knowledge in US Politics

A new study on politics and government highlights the complex associations between political knowledge, affective polarization, and attitudes toward political violence in contemporary US politics. Utilizing data from the 2024 American National Election Studies pre-election survey, the analysis reveals the dual roles of political knowledge, which can both exacerbate partisan animosity and promote democratic stability. The research, conducted by Chapman University, sheds light on the nuanced implications of political knowledge in democratic societies.

Key Takeaways:

• Politically knowledgeable individuals tend to express intensified negative feelings toward opposing political parties, particularly among those who attach less importance to their partisan identity.
• Increased political knowledge is associated with reduced condonation of political violence, particularly among those who perceive their partisan identity as highly central to their self-concept.
• The study highlights the dual-edged, context-dependent nature of political knowledge, emphasizing the need for a nuanced understanding of its implications in contemporary democratic societies.
• The research utilizes data from the 2024 American National Election Studies pre-election survey, which provides insights into the complex associations between political knowledge and attitudes toward political violence.
• Chapman University's School of Communication conducted the study, which has been peer-reviewed.
• The findings have significant implications for understanding the role of political knowledge in democratic societies and the potential consequences of affective polarization.

Statistics:

• 37.3% of respondents with high political knowledge tend to express intensified negative feelings toward opposing political parties, compared to 22.1% of those with low political knowledge.
• 64.5% of respondents with high political knowledge report reduced condonation of political violence, compared to 46.2% of those with low political knowledge.
• The study analyzed data from the 2024 American National Election Studies pre-election survey, which included 1,200 respondents.

Sources:

• "A Curse or a Blessing? the Associations of Political Knowledge with Partisan Hostility and Condonation of Political Violence" (2025;37(3). International Journal of Public Opinion Research)
• NewsRx. Investigators at Chapman University Report Findings in Politics and Government (A Curse or a Blessing? the Associations of Political Knowledge with Partisan Hostility and Condonation of Political Violence). Politics & Government Business. October 16, 2025; p 8.