Why are conservatives happier?
Abstract
In this research we drew on system justification theory and the notion that conservative ideology serves
a palliative function to explain why conservatives are happier than liberals. Specifically, we found in
three studies using nationally representative data from the U.S. and nine additional countries that right-
wing (vs. left-wing) orientation is indeed associated with greater subjective well-being and that the
relationship between political orientation and subjective well-being is mediated by the rationalization
of inequality. In our third study we find that increasing economic inequality (as measured by the GINI
index) over the past 30 years has exacerbated the ideological gap with respect to happiness, apparently
because conservatives (but not liberals) possess an ideological buffer against the negative hedonic
effects of economic inequality.
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Convention