An Analysis of Trump Supporters Has Identified 5 Key Traits
A new report sheds light on the psychological basis for Trump's support.

A 2016 study found that ��the racial and ethnic isolation of Whites at
the zip-code level is one of the strongest predictors of Trump
support.�

A 2016 survey found that high authoritarians greatly favored
then-candidate Trump. An analysis estimated that the median annual
income of Trump supporters was $72,000, which disputes that Trump
supporters are "working-class."

The lightning-fast ascent and political invincibility of Donald Trump has
left many experts baffled and wondering, �How did we get here?� Any
accurate and sufficient answer to that question must not only focus on
Trump himself, but also on his uniquely loyal supporters. Given their
extreme devotion and unwavering admiration for their highly unpredictable
and often inflammatory leader, some have turned to the field of psychology
for scientific explanations based on precise quantitative data and
established theoretical frameworks.

Although analyses and studies by psychologists and neuroscientists have
provided many thought-provoking explanations for his enduring support, the
accounts of different experts often vary greatly, sometimes overlapping
and other times conflicting. However insightful these critiques may be, it
is apparent that more research and examination is needed to hone in on the
exact psychological and social factors underlying this peculiar human
behavior.

In a recent review paper published in the Journal of Social and Political
Psychology, Psychologist and UC Santa Cruz professor Thomas Pettigrew
argues that five major psychological phenomena can help explain this
exceptional political event. 1. Authoritarianism

Authoritarianism refers to the advocacy or enforcement of strict obedience
to authority at the expense of personal freedom and is commonly associated
with a lack of concern for the opinions or needs of others. Authoritarian
personality syndrome�a well-studied and globally-prevalent condition�is a
state of mind that is characterized by belief in total and complete
obedience to one�s authority. Those with the syndrome often display
aggression toward outgroup members, submissiveness to authority,
resistance to new experiences, and a rigid hierarchical view of society.
The syndrome is often triggered by fear, making it easy for leaders who
exaggerate threat or fear monger to gain their allegiance.

Although authoritarian personality is found among liberals, it is more
common among the right-wing around the world. President Trump�s speeches,
which include absolutist terms like �losers� and �complete disasters,� are
naturally appealing to those who prefer authoritarianism.

While research showed that Republican voters in the U.S. scored higher
than Democrats on measures of authoritarianism before Trump emerged on the
political scene, a 2016 Politico survey found that high authoritarians
greatly favored then-candidate Trump, which led to a correct prediction
that he would win the election, despite the polls saying otherwise.
article continues after advertisement 2. Social dominance orientation

Social dominance orientation (SDO)�which is distinct but related to
authoritarian personality syndrome�refers to people who have a preference
for the societal hierarchy of groups, specifically with a structure in
which the high-status groups have dominance over the low-status ones.
Those with SDO are typically dominant, tough-minded, and driven by
self-interest.

In Trump�s speeches, he appeals to those with SDO by repeatedly making a
clear distinction between groups that have a generally higher status in
society (White), and those groups that are typically thought of as
belonging to a lower status (immigrants and minorities).

A 2016 survey study of 406 American adults published this year in the
journal Personality and Individual Differences found that those who scored
high on both SDO and authoritarianism were those who intended to vote for
Trump in the election. 3. Prejudice

It would be grossly unfair and inaccurate to say that every one of Trump�s
supporters has a prejudice against ethnic and religious minorities, but it
would be equally inaccurate to say that some do not. It is a well-known
fact that the Republican party, going at least as far back to Richard
Nixon�s �Southern strategy,� used strategies that appealed to bigotry,
such as by delivering speeches with �dog whistles��code words that
signaled prejudice toward minorities that were designed to be heard by
racists but no one else.

While the dog whistles of the past were more subtle, Trump�s are sometimes
shockingly direct. There�s no denying that he routinely appeals to bigoted
supporters when he calls Muslims �dangerous� and Mexican immigrants
�rapists� and �murderers,� often in a blanketed fashion. Perhaps
unsurprisingly, a new study has shown that support for Trump is correlated
with a standard scale of modern racism. article continues after
advertisement 4. Intergroup contact

Intergroup contact refers to contact with members of groups that are
outside one�s own, which has been experimentally shown to reduce
prejudice. As such, it�s important to note that there is growing evidence
that Trump�s white supporters have experienced significantly less contact
with minorities than other Americans. For example, a 2016 study found that
��the racial and ethnic isolation of Whites at the zip-code level is one
of the strongest predictors of Trump support.� This correlation persisted
while controlling for dozens of other variables. In agreement with this
finding, the same researchers found that support for Trump increased with
the voters� physical distance from the Mexican border. 5. Relative
deprivation

Relative deprivation refers to the experience of being deprived of
something to which one believes they are entitled. It is the discontent
felt when one compares their position in life to others who they feel are
equal or inferior but have unfairly had more success than them.

Common explanations for Trump�s popularity among non-bigoted voters
involve economics. There is no doubt that some Trump supporters are simply
angry that American jobs are being lost to Mexico and China, which is
certainly understandable, although these loyalists often ignore the fact
that some of these careers may be lost due to the accelerating pace of
automation.

These Trump supporters are experiencing relative deprivation, and are
common among the swing states like Ohio, Michigan, and Pennsylvania. This
kind of deprivation is specifically referred to as �relative,� as opposed
to �absolute,� because the feeling is often based on a skewed perception
of what one is entitled to. For example, an analysis conducted by
FiveThirtyEight estimated that the median annual income of Trump
supporters was $72,000.

If such data is accurate, the portrayal of most Trump supporters as
working-class citizens rebelling against Republican elites may not be
fully accurate.

This article was also published at Raw Story.