Why Do Conservatives Report Being Happier Than Liberals? The Contribution of Neuroticism

Abstract

Previous studies suggest that conservatives in the United States are happier than liberals. This difference has been attributed to factors including differences in socioeconomic status, group memberships, and system-justifying beliefs. We suggest that differences between liberals and conservatives in personality traits may provide an additional account for the "happiness gap". Specifically, we investigated the role of neuroticism (or conversely, emotional stability) in explaining the conservative-liberal happiness gap. In Study 1 (N = 619), we assessed the correlation between political orientation (PO) and satisfaction with life (SWL), controlling for the Big Five traits, religiosity, income, and demographic variables. Neuroticism, conscientiousness, and religiosity each accounted for the PO-SWL correlation. In Study 2 (N = 700), neuroticism, system justification beliefs, conscientiousness, and income each accounted for PO-SWL correlation. In both studies, neuroticism negatively correlated with conservatism. We suggest that individual differences in neuroticism represent a previously under-examined contributor to the SWL disparity between conservatives and liberals.

A quarter century of system justification theory: Questions, answers, criticisms, and societal applications

“…As noted above, Napier and Jost () found that, in comparison with liberals, political conservatives report greater happiness and personal satisfaction and that this ‘happiness gap' is mediated, in part, by the justification of inequality. This pattern of results has been replicated many times over (Bixter, ; Burton, Plaks, & Peterson, ; Butz, Kieslich, & Bless, ; Choma, Busseri, & Sadava, ; Cichocka & Jost, ; Newman, Schwarz, Graham, & Stone, ; Okulicz‐Kozaryn et al ., ; Onraet, Van Assche, Roets, Haesevoets, & Van Hiel, ; Schlenker, Chambers, & Le, ; Wojcik et al ., ). These replications have not, however, prevented critics from disputing the basic notion that system justification serves a palliative function.…”

System justification enhances well‐being: A longitudinal analysis of the palliative function of system justification in 18 countries

“…More happiness among conservative people was larger in contexts with a conservative orientation, and lower or non‐significant in contexts with a liberal orientation. This difference favourable to conservatives has been attributed to factors such as high socioeconomic status, identification with a group with high collective esteem, emotional stability, and agreement with system justifying beliefs (Burton, Plaks, & Peterson, ). In addition, Napier and Jost (, study 1 and study 2) and Schlenker, Chambers, and Le (, study 1, study 2, and study 3) demonstrated an empirical link between conservatism and life satisfaction and happiness, which was mediated by system justification measures, after controlling for a range of socio‐demographic factors.…”

Why are conservatives happier than liberals? Comparing different explanations based on system justification, multiple group membership, and positive adjustment

“…In particular, another relevant contributor to the life satisfaction gap between conservatives and liberals is suggested byBurton, Plaks, and Peterson (2015): neuroticism. That is, conservatism is negatively correlated with neuroticism, the latter decreasing the reported life satisfaction.…”