Muradova, LalaArceneaux, Kevin2025-07-012025-07-012022Muradova L, Arceneaux K. Political belief formation: individual differences and situational factors. In: Musolino J, Sommer J, Hemmer P, editors. Cognitive sciences of beliefs: a multidisciplinary approach. New York: Cambridge University Press; 2022. p. 279-97. DOI: 10.1017/9781009001021.02197813165186499781009009850http://hdl.handle.net/10230/70809This chapter reviews research at the intersection of psychology and political science that studies how people form political beliefs. We discuss the degree to which people's motivations shape the beliefs that they form, paying particular attention to the extent to which people's political beliefs are generated through reflection. Both individual differences and situational factors affect the extent to which people are reflective in political domains. As always, more questions remain than researchers have answered, and we conclude with some thoughts about the most pressing ones that future research should tackle.application/pdfengThis material has been published in The cognitive science of belief: a multidisciplinary approach edited by Julien Musolino, Joseph Sommer and Pernille Hemmer. This version is free to view and download for personal use only. Not for re-distribution, re-sale or use in derivative works. © Cambridge University Press.info:eu-repo/semantics/bookPart2025-07-01http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/9781009001021.021ReflectionPolitical reasoningIndividual differencesEmpathyMotivated reasoningOpinion formationDispositionsDeliberationinfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess