❓WHAT HAPPENED: A study revealed that a significant majority of college students misrepresent their views to align with progressive ideologies socially or academically.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Researchers Kevin Waldman and Forest Romm from psychFORM conducted the study, interviewing 1,452 undergraduate students.
📍WHEN & WHERE: The research took place between 2023 and 2025 at Northwestern University and the University of Michigan.
🎯IMPACT: The findings highlight concerns about free expression and intellectual growth being stifled on college campuses.
According to new data, most American college students publicly present themselves as holding more progressive political opinions than they actually believe in order to be more advantaged socially or academically. The research, conducted by Kevin Waldman and Forest Romm with psychFORM, included confidential interviews with 1,452 undergraduate students at Northwestern University and the University of Michigan between 2023 and 2025.
The study found that 88 percent of college students surveyed responded yes when asked, “Have you ever pretended to hold more progressive views than you believed to be accepted socially or academically?” Additionally, 82 percent of students stated that they submitted assignments that misrepresented their true beliefs to align with what they perceived as expected ideologies.
Meanwhile, 80 percent of students reported receiving negative feedback on work that challenged these expected views. A substantial 72 percent of participants stated that reasoned disagreement with progressive views is not treated with respect.
Notably, topics like gender identity, political beliefs, and family values were among the most self-censored, with 78 percent, 72 percent, and 68 percent of students, respectively, admitting to avoiding open discussion. Furthermore, when asked about their stance on whether “gender identity should override biological sex in athletics, healthcare, or legal documents,” 77 percent disagreed, but 91 percent of those who disagreed said they would not express this opinion publicly.
The findings also highlighted reputational concerns, with 81 percent of students agreeing that “silence is safest when unsure how views will be received,” and 74 percent acknowledging that expressing moderate views could harm their reputation. Even among close friends, 73 percent said they avoid sharing their values, and nearly half reported concealing beliefs in intimate relationships.
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