| Abstract |
This paper investigates the role of misperceptions in social norms surrounding cor- ruption in shaping political beliefs and voting behavior. Using a survey experiment, we examine how voters’ beliefs about the tolerance of others toward corruption influence their support for incumbents implicated in a political scandal. We find that many vot- ers, particularly those supporting the party responsible for the scandal, misperceive the tolerance of others toward corruption, assuming it is higher than it actually is. When provided with accurate information about social norms, we observe a backfiring effect: those who initially held more optimistic views about others’ intolerance of corruption tend to increase their support for the corrupt incumbent. We interpret this as a form of defensive behavior by supporters. This study provides new insights into how social norms about corruption are misperceived, and how correcting these misperceptions can influence posterior beliefs and voting behavior, offering implications for electoral accountability in democracies. |