The Hidden Bias: A Study on Explicit and Implicit Political Stereotypes in Large Language Models

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Löhr, Konrad, Yuan, Shuzhou, Färber, Michael
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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author Löhr, Konrad
Yuan, Shuzhou
Färber, Michael
author_facet Löhr, Konrad
Yuan, Shuzhou
Färber, Michael
contents Large Language Models (LLMs) are increasingly integral to information dissemination and decision-making processes. Given their growing societal influence, understanding potential biases, particularly within the political domain, is crucial to prevent undue influence on public opinion and democratic processes. This work investigates political bias and stereotype propagation across eight prominent LLMs using the two-dimensional Political Compass Test (PCT). Initially, the PCT is employed to assess the inherent political leanings of these models. Subsequently, persona prompting with the PCT is used to explore explicit stereotypes across various social dimensions. In a final step, implicit stereotypes are uncovered by evaluating models with multilingual versions of the PCT. Key findings reveal a consistent left-leaning political alignment across all investigated models. Furthermore, while the nature and extent of stereotypes vary considerably between models, implicit stereotypes elicited through language variation are more pronounced than those identified via explicit persona prompting. Interestingly, for most models, implicit and explicit stereotypes show a notable alignment, suggesting a degree of transparency or "awareness" regarding their inherent biases. This study underscores the complex interplay of political bias and stereotypes in LLMs.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2510_08236
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle The Hidden Bias: A Study on Explicit and Implicit Political Stereotypes in Large Language Models
Löhr, Konrad
Yuan, Shuzhou
Färber, Michael
Machine Learning
Artificial Intelligence
Large Language Models (LLMs) are increasingly integral to information dissemination and decision-making processes. Given their growing societal influence, understanding potential biases, particularly within the political domain, is crucial to prevent undue influence on public opinion and democratic processes. This work investigates political bias and stereotype propagation across eight prominent LLMs using the two-dimensional Political Compass Test (PCT). Initially, the PCT is employed to assess the inherent political leanings of these models. Subsequently, persona prompting with the PCT is used to explore explicit stereotypes across various social dimensions. In a final step, implicit stereotypes are uncovered by evaluating models with multilingual versions of the PCT. Key findings reveal a consistent left-leaning political alignment across all investigated models. Furthermore, while the nature and extent of stereotypes vary considerably between models, implicit stereotypes elicited through language variation are more pronounced than those identified via explicit persona prompting. Interestingly, for most models, implicit and explicit stereotypes show a notable alignment, suggesting a degree of transparency or "awareness" regarding their inherent biases. This study underscores the complex interplay of political bias and stereotypes in LLMs.
title The Hidden Bias: A Study on Explicit and Implicit Political Stereotypes in Large Language Models
topic Machine Learning
Artificial Intelligence
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2510.08236