Richard Petty – The Conversation

Many people who hold political views are uncertain about their opinions. GSO Images/The Image Bank via Getty Images

June 13, 2024

People ambivalent about political issues support violence more than those with clear opinions

Joseph Siev, University of Virginia and Richard Petty, The Ohio State University

The more ambivalent a person is about a political issue, the more likely they are to support violence and other extreme actions relating to that issue.

Health-care workers in Toronto protest the Canadian truckers convoy last February that was against vaccine mandates. (Shutterstock)

July 14, 2022

Understanding why people reject science could lead to solutions for rebuilding trust

Aviva Philipp-Muller, Simon Fraser University; Richard Petty, The Ohio State University, and Spike W. S. Lee, University of Toronto

To communicate scientific findings that are relevant to the public, science communicators need to understand how to overcome attitudes that are anti-science.

Opposing a candidate is more confidence-building, and action-driving, than supporting one. Elvert Barnes/Flickr

March 2, 2016

Voters who oppose politicians are the most active

Richard Petty, The Ohio State University

Opposition inspires more confidence in one’s position than support and also helps to turn judgments into actions. This helps explain why attack ads are a crucial tool in politicians’ arsenals.

Contact Richard for