5. Explaining the Brexit Vote: A Socioeconomic and Psychological Exploration of the Referendum Vote

Hearne, David; Semmens-Wheeler, Rebecca; Hill, Kimberley M

doi:10.1108/978-1-78769-765-220191006

Cited by 3 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 28 publications

(35 reference statements)

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“…Turning first to regional factors, the referendum results, together with pre- and post-referendum analysis have highlighted regional differences in voting patterns ( Clarke and Whittaker, 2016 ; The Electoral Commission, 2016 ; Clarke et al, 2017 ). These differences can be further investigated in the context of the findings in the present studies and in the findings of research exploring regional differences in personality within the UK ( Rentfrow et al, 2015 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The role of personality, authoritarianism and cognition in the United Kingdom’s 2016 referendum on European Union membership

Sumner¹,

Scofield

Buchanan

et al. 2023

Front. Psychol.

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IntroductionThe results of the United Kingdom’s 2016 referendum on European Union (EU) membership have highlighted deep societal divides. In six studies, we examined the role of personality traits, cognition and cognitive biases in relation to referendum voters’ choices.MethodsA total of 11,225 participants completed questionnaires and controlled experiments, which assessed differences in personality traits, levels of authoritarianism, numeracy, thinking styles, and susceptibility to cognitive biases including ideologically motivated numeracy and reasoning, framing, and the Dunning-Kruger effect.ResultsParticipants expressing an intent to vote to leave the EU reported significantly higher levels of authoritarianism and conscientiousness, and lower levels of openness and neuroticism than voters expressing an intent to vote to remain in the EU. When compared with Remain voters, Leave voters displayed significantly lower levels of numeracy and appeared more reliant on impulsive System 1 thinking. In the experimental studies, voters on both sides were found to be susceptible to the cognitive biases tested, with a general trend for Leave voters to show more bias than Remain voters.DiscussionThese results raise important questions regarding the use and framing of numerical and non-numerical data for public consumption.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The role of personality, authoritarianism and cognition in the United Kingdom’s 2016 referendum on European Union membership

Sumner¹,

Scofield

Buchanan

et al. 2023

Front. Psychol.

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show abstract

“…Furthermore, the 2016 referendum result highlighted deep divisions in the fabric of UK communities and regions -and indeed between the four constituent nations of the UK, with Scotland and Northern Ireland voting decisively to stay in the EU, while England and Wales voted to leave (Menon, 2018). 1 Recent research has related voter decisions to demographics, focussing on the 'who' rather than the 'why' (Hearne et al, 2019). This literature has tended to frame the Brexit result by correlating it to socio-demographic characteristics such as education, age, ethnicity and income.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Recent research has related voter decisions to demographics, focussing on the ‘who’ rather than the ‘why’ (Hearne et al, 2019). This literature has tended to frame the Brexit result by correlating it to socio-demographic characteristics such as education, age, ethnicity and income.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As an example, a recent study found that those who were most likely to vote Leave were those with low incomes (i.e., less than GBP1,200 per month), among other reasons and those who felt that 'Britain has got a lot worse in the last ten years' (Swales, 2016:7). In this context, we critically examine the arguments that posit the Brexit vote as a rejection of the neoliberal orthodoxy that has generated such feelings of disenfranchisement (Hearne et al, 2019).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Brexit: ‘Revolt’ against the ‘elites’ or Trojan horse for more deregulation?

Arana

Rowe

Ruyter

et al. 2019

Econ. labour relat. rev.

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This article explores the UK vote in 2016 to exit the European Union, colloquially known as ‘Brexit’. Brexit has been portrayed as a British backlash against globalisation and a desire for a reassertion of sovereignty by the UK as a nation-state. In this context, a vote to leave the European Union has been regarded by its protagonists as a vote to ‘take back control’ to ‘make our own laws’ and ‘let in [only] who we want’. We take a particular interest in the stance of key ‘Brexiteers’ in the UK towards regulation, with the example of the labour market. The article commences by assessing the notion of Brexit as a means to secure further market liberalisation. This analysis is then followed by an account of migration as a key issue, the withdrawal process and likely future trajectory of Brexit. We argue that in contrast to the expectations of those who voted Leave in 2016, the UK as a mid-sized open economy will be a rule-taker and will either remain in the European regulatory orbit, or otherwise drift into the American one. JEL Codes: F2, F53, F55, F66, K33

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Beyond remain vs. leave: understand changing voter perceptions and attitudes towards Populism—evidence from Scotland and the West Midlands

Ruyter¹,

Hearne²,

Murshed

et al. 2021

Cambridge Journal of Regions, Economy and Society

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This article explores the link between populism and governance arrangements. Adopting a comparative approach between the West Midlands and Scotland, it utilises novel primary qualitative data alongside official results and demographic statistics. Paying particular attention to the perspectives of remain-voters in “left behind” areas and how they perceive their Leave-voting counterparts, the article finds that despite divergent voting patterns both groups perceived a problematic lack of (regional) political agency. Economic disparities and subnational governance arrangements appear important in explaining discontent in those parts of the UK that have been “left behind” by globalisation. Meaningful devolution will be key in addressing these grievances.

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5. Explaining the Brexit Vote: A Socioeconomic and Psychological Exploration of the Referendum Vote

Cited by 3 publications

References 28 publications

The role of personality, authoritarianism and cognition in the United Kingdom’s 2016 referendum on European Union membership

The role of personality, authoritarianism and cognition in the United Kingdom’s 2016 referendum on European Union membership

Brexit: ‘Revolt’ against the ‘elites’ or Trojan horse for more deregulation?

Beyond remain vs. leave: understand changing voter perceptions and attitudes towards Populism—evidence from Scotland and the West Midlands

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