Mobilizing the Shy and Closed-Minded into Politics: The Mediating Role of Political Trust for Conventional Participation in the Americas.

This article investigates why some individuals low in extraversion and openness to experience engage in political participation, focusing on political trust as a mediating factor. Using data from the 2010 AmericasBarometer survey across 24 countries in North America, Latin America, and the Caribbean, the study finds that while extraverted and open individuals generally participate more in politics, they tend to have lower political trust. Conversely, introverted and closed-minded individuals exhibit higher political trust, which positively influences their conventional political participation such as voting, campaigning, attending meetings, and contacting officials. These findings suggest that political trust enables less extraverted and open citizens to engage in public affairs, highlighting implications for democratic equity and representation by broadening understanding of diverse pathways to political involvement.