Friday, October 2, 2026
Science

On complex political issues, most Americans take shortcuts to simplicity

A core assumption in any democracy is that citizens with access to information will make reasoned decisions on political candidates and policy issues. But a new study by UC Berkeley social scientists finds that Americans usually don't consider the full scope of difficult issues, instead basing their...

On complex political issues, most Americans take shortcuts to simplicity
Image: Phys.org
A core assumption in any democracy is that citizens with access to information will make reasoned decisions on political candidates and policy issues. But a new study by UC Berkeley social scientists finds that Americans usually don't consider the full scope of difficult issues, instead basing their opinions on mental shortcuts that sidestep complexity.

Originally published at Phys.org

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