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Losing Hurts: The Happiness Impact of Partisan Electoral Loss

Author

Listed:
  • Pierce, Lamar

    (Washington University in St Louis)

  • Rogers, Todd

    (Harvard University)

  • Snyder, Jason A.

    (UCLA)

Abstract

Partisan identity shapes social, mental, economic, and physical life. Using a novel dataset, we study the consequences of partisan identity by examining the immediate impact of electoral loss and victory on happiness and sadness. Employing a quasi-experimental regression discontinuity model we present two primary findings. First, elections strongly affect the immediate happiness/sadness of partisan losers, but minimally impact partisan winners. This effect is consistent with psychological research on the good-bad hedonic asymmetry, but appears to dissipate within a week after the election. Second, the immediate happiness consequences to partisan losers are relatively strong. To illustrate, we show that partisans are affected two times more by their party losing the 2012 U.S. Presidential Election than both respondents with children were to the Newtown shootings and respondents living in Boston were to the Boston Marathon bombings. We discuss implications regarding the centrality of partisan identity to the self and its well-being.

Suggested Citation

  • Pierce, Lamar & Rogers, Todd & Snyder, Jason A., 2015. "Losing Hurts: The Happiness Impact of Partisan Electoral Loss," Working Paper Series rwp14-051, Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government.
    • Handle: RePEc:ecl:harjfk:rwp14-051
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Coupe, Tom & Obrizan, Maksym, 2016. "The impact of war on happiness: The case of Ukraine," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 132(PA), pages 228-242.

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