Justifying Dissent.

The article investigates how rationales—arguments or narratives supporting dissenting views—facilitate the public expression of stigmatized opinions by providing "social cover" that reduces anticipated social sanctions. Through a series of experiments on U.S. liberals opposing police defunding and conservatives supporting immediate deportation of illegal Mexican immigrants, the study finds that individuals are more willing to publicly express dissent on social media when they can credibly attribute their stance to scientific evidence or authoritative sources. This social cover shifts audience perceptions, making dissenters appear less prejudiced and decreasing social penalties. The effectiveness of rationales depends on their perceived credibility and common knowledge of their availability, with implications for political correctness, propaganda, populism, and the spread of misinformation on social media.