Alexa Sohn
Research Mentor: Hilary Zedlitz
Mentor Department: Political Science, LSA
Author(s): Not Available
Session: Session 1 (9:00 AM – 9:50 AM)
Presentation Type: Poster 104
Abstract
Given the increasing visibility of religion in the American political landscape, this project investigates whether individuals conceal their (non)religious affiliation in online political contexts. Previous research in political science highlights the role of self-presentation and identity signaling, suggesting that people adjust their expressed beliefs to fit social expectations. I examine how partisan identity and affective polarization shape the likelihood of concealing non-political identities in partisan environments. Specifically, I hypothesize that (1) the more important partisan identity is to a respondent’s self-concept, the more likely they would be to conceal non-political identities in partisan environments, and (2) individuals with higher levels of affective polarization would be more likely to conceal non-political identities when interacting in out-party environments. To examine this, I use data from a 2024 online survey experiment via Prolific, recruiting U.S.-based adults. Participants were randomly assigned to view mock social media profiles containing either in-party cues, out-party cues, or no partisan information. Key measures included willingness to disclose (non)religious affiliation, comfort sharing that identity online, and qualitative explanations captured through open-ended responses. Contrary to expectations, the results did not support either hypothesis. Instead, the findings indicate that stronger partisan identity and higher levels of affective polarization are significantly associated with less concealment of non-political identities in partisan contexts. These results challenge assumptions derived from social identity and self-presentation theories that individuals strategically suppress identities to avoid cross-partisan conflict. These results challenge assumptions derived from social identity and self-presentation theories that individuals strategically suppress identities to avoid cross-partisan conflict. More broadly, the findings suggest that highly partisan individuals may feel more comfortable expressing overlapping identities, even in politically charged environments. By examining patterns of identity disclosure and concealment online, this research contributes to a deeper understanding of how Americans navigate political and religious identities in digital spaces and offers new insights into the relationship between polarization and self-presentation.
