(iPoster) Relating Trust and Hope in the 2024 Presidential Election

• In Event: Poster Session: New Perspectives in Political Science Research: Scholarship by Vanderbilt REU Students

Abstract

Since the 1960s, American citizens’ trust in the federal government has declined considerably and continuously. While scholars have debated the causes and consequences of this decline, positive psychology is strikingly absent from the discussion. This highlights a gap in research that needs to be studied: how does political trust influence positive emotions? I assess the relevance of political hope when studying political trust, drawing on theories of public opinion, political psychology, and positive psychology. I utilize cross-sectional data from the American National Election Studies’ 2024 Time Series Study to empirically test my predictions. Emotions are integral to one’s political decision-making processes. Therefore, understanding the connection between political trust and hope might bear important implications for theories of political opinion formation and behavior.

Author

• Danielle Ma, University of California, Riverside