I thought this was interesting: Americans’ support for a female president is significantly exaggerated, researchers say. It turns out that when answering pollsters’ questions, people feel a certain pressure to give socially acceptable, i.e., non-sexist, answers.

This isn’t exactly earth-shattering news, though it certainly has implications for Hillary Clinton, and similarly, for Barack Obama. What was most interesting to me, as a former student of research in social psychology, was the methodology the researchers employed.

Persons quizzed as part of a nationwide telephone poll were asked how many of four statements made them angry or upset, things like gasoline prices, overpaid athletes, seat belt requirements, and corporations polluting the environment. About half of the respondents were given a fifth statement: a woman serving as president. A significantly larger number of the respondents became angry when the fifth statement was included. On the basis of this finding, the researchers concluded “it is extremely likely that those who are angered by the prospect of a female president are not going to vote for a woman.” In fact, while only 5–15% of the public say they will not vote for a woman presidential candidate, this poll indicates the true number is more like 26%.

Even more suprisingly, the findings were consistent across demographic groups: more educated people, younger people, and women all showed about the same resistance as other groups.