With a five‐wave panel survey collected just around these two events, we show that citizens’ policy opinions changed immediately and substantially when their party switched its policy position—even when the new position went against citizens’ previously held views.

It’s been known for a while that most people do not have well-considered views, but rather are on what they perceive as a team. The team runs the other way down the field, and so do they. Humans are pack animals.