The Psychology of Online Political Hostility: A Comprehensive, Cross-National Test of the Mismatch Hypothesis

Why are online discussions about politics more hostile than offline discussions? A popular answer argues that human psychology is tailored for face-to-face interaction and people’s behavior therefore changes the worse in impersonal discussions. We provide a theoretical formalization empirical test of this explanation: mismatch hypothesis. argue mismatches between novel features environments could (a) change behavior, (b) create adverse selection effects, (c) bias perceptions. Across eight studies, leveraging cross-national surveys behavioral experiments (total N = 8,434), we hypothesis but only find evidence limited effects. Instead, political result status-driven individuals who drawn to equally both offline. Finally, offer initial feel hostile, part, because such visible