Committed and Optimistic: Goal Striving Pathway Predicts Citizens’ Adaptive Support for Newly Elected Leadership in U.S.

We propose a goal striving pathway to citizens’ support of government. High-commitment (vs low-commitment) Americans felt more optimistic about their country, which subsequently predicted support for a newly elected administration. Of interest, Trump-supporters highly committed to the U.S. expressed acceptance of Biden’s presidency and policies, as mediated by optimism.