A Contextual Effect in Political Perception and Self‐Placement on an Ideology Scale: Comparative Analyses of Sweden and the U.S.1

Data on self‐placement and political perception on an ideology scale from surveys of adults in Sweden and the U.S. were analyzed and compared. Consensus in political perception, the correlation between perception of the party's and its leader's position, distinctiveness and polarization, subjective agreement, and a rational democratic coefficient were all substantially higher in Sweden. In spite of these differences, evidence of assimilation and contrast effects in perception was observed within both countries.