Are Politics Dumbing Us Down?
Political beliefs can profoundly influence how we think. From motivated reasoning to confirmation bias and tribal loyalty, politics often pushes us to make decisions and interpret facts in ways that defy logic—and sometimes, common sense. How does this happen, and what does it say about our brains on politics?
Talking about politics can be really hard. It’s not just about who you vote for or what laws you support. It can be an emotional battleground, a powerful force that can stir our passions and cloud our judgment. A 2025 article from the Works Counseling Center says that for many people, political talks are about their values and beliefs—things that feel personal and important. So, when someone disagrees with us, it can feel like they’re not just arguing about politics, but about who we are. This perceived affront can make us upset, worried, or even distant from friends and family. When this happens frequently it can leave us feeling tired, sad, and like we don’t belong. This happens because our brains are wired to perceive disagreement, especially on deeply personal issues, as a threat.
New research by Julia Aspernas, along with earlier work by Anup Gampa and Sean Wojcik, shows that people’s political beliefs can affect how well they use logic. The researchers looked at how people understand something called a syllogism—a kind of argument where two or more ideas are used to make a conclusion. If one of those ideas is wrong, the final answer is also wrong.
Here’s an example of a syllogism:
“If the job market is unfair, then the government should make incomes more equal. The job market is unfair. So, the government should make incomes more equal.”
This might seem right, but it only works if both of the first two statements are true. If one is false, the conclusion is also false.
In the study, people were asked to say whether they were more liberal or conservative. Then, they looked at different arguments—some about politics, some not—and had to say if each one made logical sense. The results showed that people were better at spotting bad arguments when the conclusion didn’t match what they believed. But when the conclusion did match their beliefs, they made more mistakes.
For example, liberals were better at spotting errors in conservative arguments. Conservatives were better at finding problems in liberal arguments. This shows that people often decide if something makes sense based on whether they agree with the final answer—not based on whether the logic is actually correct.
As stated, the Julia Aspernas research involved a study using political syllogisms. In reality, there are multiple reasons why political discussions can go awry, including motivated reasoning, tribal loyalty and confirmation bias. These findings by Aspernas illuminate but one key mechanism for how political beliefs distort people’s abilities to reason soundly. But it should be noted that the faulty syllogism method is commonly used by political operatives to promote support from party loyalists and ultimately mislead the public.
In a divided world, it’s easy to retreat into our respective corners, but real change happens when we choose to stay engaged. Meaningful dialogue requires curiosity, compassion, and a willingness to listen, even when it’s uncomfortable. It’s equally important to care for your mental health amidst ongoing political division. Here are things worth consideration offered by the Works Counseling Center:
Limit Media Time: Watching or reading too much news, especially when it’s full of arguments, can make you stressed or upset. Take breaks and choose how much time you spend on political news each day.
Spend Time with Positive People: Be around friends or family who make you feel good, even if they don’t agree with you on everything. Being with people you care about can help you feel more optimistic and less alone.
Do Something That Matters: Helping out in your community, joining a cause, or speaking up about something you care about can give you a sense of purpose and help you feel more in control.
Be Kind to Yourself: Sometimes, difficult conversations don’t go the way you hoped. That’s okay. Nobody handles things perfectly all the time—so give yourself some grace.
While no strategy is foolproof, building awareness—and pairing it with intentional action—can go a long way in protecting your mental well-being during politically stressful times. These steps aren’t about avoiding the hard stuff; they’re about staying grounded so you can face things with resilience.
When you feel more balanced and confident, it becomes easier to engage with people who see the world differently. You don’t have to agree on everything—but showing up with empathy, curiosity, and calm is a powerful place to start. Real progress begins not with winning arguments, but with mutual respect and accepting others as they are.
Lee Rasch
