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Popcorn politics: Entertainment appraisals predict support for populist leaders.

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Title: Popcorn politics: Entertainment appraisals predict support for populist leaders.
Authors: van Prooijen, Jan‐Willem (AUTHOR), Kipperman, Julia (AUTHOR), Li, Yuxuan (AUTHOR), Mo, Yifan (AUTHOR), Nachtwey, Paul (AUTHOR)
Source: British Journal of Psychology. Nov2025, Vol. 116 Issue 4, p770-788. 19p.
Subjects: T-test (Statistics), Descriptive statistics, Analysis of variance, Practical politics, Data analysis software, Factor analysis, Confidence intervals, Regression analysis
Abstract: Populism refers to a political style that describes society as a struggle between corrupt elites versus noble people and occurs across the political spectrum. What explains the appeal of populist leaders? In the present contribution, we tested the hypothesis that entertainment appraisals predict support more strongly for populist than non‐populist leaders. Four preregistered studies conducted among US participants supported this hypothesis, comparing appraisals of existing politicians between parties (Trump vs. Biden; Study 1) and within parties (Trump vs. Romney, Study 2a; Sanders vs. Biden, Study 2b). Furthermore, we experimentally exposed participants to a populist versus non‐populist speech of an unknown politician in a fictitious society (Study 3). Of importance, all studies also showed that the link between general populist attitudes and support was mediated by entertainment appraisals, but only for the relatively populist politicians. We conclude that to some extent, populism is a form of 'popcorn politics': Support for populist leaders depends on how entertaining people find them, more so than support for non‐populist leaders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of British Journal of Psychology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
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  Data: Popcorn politics: Entertainment appraisals predict support for populist leaders.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22British+Journal+of+Psychology%22">British Journal of Psychology</searchLink>. Nov2025, Vol. 116 Issue 4, p770-788. 19p.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22T-test+%28Statistics%29%22">T-test (Statistics)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Descriptive+statistics%22">Descriptive statistics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Analysis+of+variance%22">Analysis of variance</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Practical+politics%22">Practical politics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Data+analysis+software%22">Data analysis software</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Factor+analysis%22">Factor analysis</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Confidence+intervals%22">Confidence intervals</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Regression+analysis%22">Regression analysis</searchLink>
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  Data: Populism refers to a political style that describes society as a struggle between corrupt elites versus noble people and occurs across the political spectrum. What explains the appeal of populist leaders? In the present contribution, we tested the hypothesis that entertainment appraisals predict support more strongly for populist than non‐populist leaders. Four preregistered studies conducted among US participants supported this hypothesis, comparing appraisals of existing politicians between parties (Trump vs. Biden; Study 1) and within parties (Trump vs. Romney, Study 2a; Sanders vs. Biden, Study 2b). Furthermore, we experimentally exposed participants to a populist versus non‐populist speech of an unknown politician in a fictitious society (Study 3). Of importance, all studies also showed that the link between general populist attitudes and support was mediated by entertainment appraisals, but only for the relatively populist politicians. We conclude that to some extent, populism is a form of 'popcorn politics': Support for populist leaders depends on how entertaining people find them, more so than support for non‐populist leaders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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  Data: <i>Copyright of British Journal of Psychology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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        Value: 10.1111/bjop.12791
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        Text: English
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      – SubjectFull: Descriptive statistics
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      – SubjectFull: Analysis of variance
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      – SubjectFull: Factor analysis
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      – SubjectFull: Confidence intervals
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      – SubjectFull: Regression analysis
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            NameFull: van Prooijen, Jan‐Willem
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            – D: 01
              M: 11
              Text: Nov2025
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              Y: 2025
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