The interaction between political ideology and conscientiousness in the sharing of fake news was found to be influenced by a desire to cause chaos. A desire to cause chaos was found to drive the interaction rather than promotion of conservative policies, media distrust, support for Donald Trump, or amount of social media consumption. 

Sharing Fake News: Desire to Cause Chaos 

The propensity for conservatives to share fake news is largely driven by conservatives low in conscientiousness. No differences were found among people high in conscientiousness with opposing political ideologies. 

Ohio State University, Columbus

Republicans and Independents have been found to be more likely to share fake news in comparison to Democrats. Additionally, conservative political ideologies have been positively associated with sharing fake news. 

Sharing Fake News: Political Ideology 

 Lower on levels of conscientiousness were found to be associated with a higher likelihood to share fake news stories compared to high conscientiousness. 

Sharing Fake News: Conscientiousness

Lawson, M. A., & Kakkar, H. (2021). Of pandemics, politics, and personality: The role of conscientiousness and political ideology in the sharing of fake news. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General. https://doi-org.proxy.lib.ohio-state.edu/10.1037/xge0001120.supp (Supplemental) 

Of Pandemics, Politics, and Personality: The Role of Conscientiousness and Political Ideology in the Sharing of Fake News

Sharing Fake News: Interaction of Political Ideology and Conscientiousness

In fake news sharing related to political ideology, a strong disinclination to share news discordant with their political ideology was found rather than an inclination to share news concordant with their political ideology. 

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