Professor Ashlea Rundlett, along with coauthors Cara Wong, Jake Bowers, Daniel Rubenson, and Mark Fredrickson, recently published the article “A Two-Path Theory of Context Effects: Pseudoenvironments and Social Cohesion” in the British Journal of Political Science (Journal Impact Factor: 4.7). The study examines how both local demographic realities and individuals’ perceptions of their communities influence social cohesion and trust among neighbors.

They find that perceptions of community diversity can shape social cohesion just as strongly as objective demographic conditions. Individuals who believe their communities are more diverse tend to report lower levels of social cohesion and collective efficacy, even when they live in objectively similar neighborhoods. The findings suggest that people’s beliefs about who lives around them, not just the actual characteristics of their communities, play an important role in shaping trust, cooperation, and neighborhood relationships.

Published in one of the leading journals in political science, this research contributes to broader discussions about social trust, community dynamics, and political behavior. The study highlights how perceptions of local communities can have meaningful consequences for social cohesion, demonstrating that the way people understand their social environment can be just as influential as the environment itself.

Link to Article: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007123425101099