When politicians engage in dishonest conduct, it often becomes the subject of a scandal. Such misconduct can take a variety of forms, from alleged financial irregularities to provocative utterances. Regardless of their specific nature, political scandals are ubiquitous and can have significant consequences for politicians. Yet little is known about how and why political scandal occurs and what impact it has on voters’ evaluations of politicians.
This article attempts to bring together the growing body of literature on political scandal through a meta-analysis. Seventy-eight studies involving more than 54,000 participants were identified and examined. Results reveal that scandals have negative evaluative effects on politicians. The analysis also reveals that five central moderators (candidate characteristics, behaviors, prior attitudes, context, and scandal type) influence the results of scandal analyses.
The findings also suggest that scandal effects vary by electoral system. For example, in countries with party-centered electoral systems, the effects of scandal may be less severe than in those with candidate-centered electoral systems. In addition, future research could explore the influences of cultural factors on scandal outcomes.
Overall, the results suggest that polarization breeds dishonesty, encourages misbehavior, and diminishes the value of political discourse to voters’ detriment. In light of this, we recommend that governments work to increase transparency and accountability to prevent scandal. They should also promote a culture of openness to debate and discussion, which is necessary for addressing societal concerns. Further, the public should demand the highest ethical standards from its politicians.
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