Figure 2.1. Experimental Design to Evaluate the Effect of the Past on the Present This diagram outlines the experimental design for each policy issue. Respondents were randomly assigned to the Control, Treatment 1, or Treatment 2 group. The treatment groups were presented with different historical frames for a particular policy trend while the control group was not presented with a historical frame.

Figure 2.2. The Effect of the Past on Present-Day Preferences across All Policies This figure visualizes the effect of historical statements on present-day policy preferences for both treatments in all nine policy areas.

Figure 2.3. Explaining Dissent with History Lessons This graph compares the effect of ideology, education, and political engagement (measured as the extent to which respondents follow government affairs) on respondents’ likelihood of disagreeing with the history lesson presented to them. The results show that the effect of ideology is strongest across nearly all policy areas.

Figure 3.1. Experimental Design to Evaluate the Effect of the Future on the Present This diagram outlines the experimental design for each policy issue. Respondents were randomly assigned to the Control, Treatment 1, or Treatment 2 group. The treatment groups were presented with different future forecasts about a particular policy trend while the control group was not presented with a forecast.

Figure 3.2. The Effect of the Future on Present-Day Preferences across All Policies This figure visualizes the effect of future forecasts on present-day policy preferences for both treatments in all eight policy areas.

Figure 3.3. Comparison of Future and Past Effects on Present-Day Preferences This figure shows that the effect of the past tends to be larger than the effect of the future on present-day policy preferences.

Figure 3.4. Explaining Dissent with Future Forecasts This graph compares the effect of ideology, education, and political engagement (measured as the extent to which respondents follow government affairs) on their likelihood of disagreeing with the future forecast presented to them. The results show that the effect of ideology is strongest across nearly all policy areas.

Figure 4.1. The Combined Effect of the Past and Future on Present-Day Policy Preferences This figure compares the present-day policy preferences of two groups of survey respondents. The first group agreed with the forecast and history lesson with which they were presented. The second group agreed with either the forecast or the history lesson (meaning they disagreed with one of these). The figure shows that those who agree with consistent assertions about the past and present are more likely to express congruent, present-day policy preferences.

Figure 5.1. The Effect of Congruent vs. Incongruent Treatments These bar plots show the reinforcing effect of historical and future frames. Those who received reinforcing frames were more likely to support the present-day policy position that aligned with these frames. Those who received incongruous frames, in contrast, were less likely to support this same policy position.