Widespread distrust in politicians is often blamed on elites. But this article turns to citizens, arguing they actively worsen the problem.

The core mechanism: a psychological bias where people prefer sharing information about others' selfish actions online. We call it "interpersonal transmission bias" — spreading stories that harm social cohesion but serve individual interests.

Data & Methods:

* Experimental studies designed to observe real-world communication chains.

Key Findings:

* Citizens disproportionally spread negative political information through interpersonal channels.

* This selective sharing directly contributes to feelings of distrust toward politicians and policy disapproval among recipients.

Why It Matters:

* Offers a crucial mass-level perspective on fostering political polarization.

* Provides insights for designing campaigns against misinformation in politics.