I’m Eric Oliver, Professor of Political Science at the University of Chicago.  I study American politics, public opinion, political psychology, local politics, racial attitudes, the politics of science, and the self.

Recent research papers examine why Americans believe in conspiracy theories, how credulous Americans are about misinformation, why 2016 was a populist election, and why liberals and conservatives name their children differently.

My most recent book, Enchanted America argues that the major political divisions in this country are not simply defined by party, ideology, or race but by worldview.  The gap between “intuitionists” and “rationalists” can account for much of what is bizarre and troubling about American politics today.

I’m currently working on a new book called The Intelligible Self, which is based on a course I teach on how to know your self.  As part of working on this book, I’ve launched a podcast call Nine Questions with Eric Oliver where I ask interesting and perceptive guests about how they know themselves.

If you're not a fan of academic papers and books, you can find discussions of my research in the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, the Atlantic, the Pacific Standard, Scientific American, and my wife Thea's Facebook page.

Follow me on Twitter and I promise I won't post anything about my children, my pets, or what I'm eating on my fabulous vacations.