Strategic Deception, Presumed Alignment and Carefree Misunderstanding: Dyadic Identification of Within-Couple Political (Mis)Alignment

Within-couple political (mis)alignment has emerged as a significant issue in contexts such as Hong Kong, where affective polarization is rising. The alignment of individual political orientations with those of one’s spouse is linked to various family outcomes, including marital satisfaction, fertility intentions, and migration decisions. This mixed-method study investigates the necessity of dyadic data—collecting information from both partners in a couple—to assess the impact of political (mis)alignment. Utilizing a representative household survey, I analyzed dyadic data and found that respondents sometimes struggle to accurately identify their spouses' political orientations and tend to overestimate their political alignment. Qualitative interviews revealed that some couples misrepresent their political views to avoid conflicts, while others assume their partners share the same values due to a lack of political communication. This research contributes methodologically and theoretically to understanding political dynamics within intimate relationships.