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New Study Reveals Strategies to Mitigate Political Polarization in the U.S.

A recent “megastudy,” which involved a survey of over 32,000 individuals from differing political backgrounds, has identified multiple effective strategies aimed at reducing political polarization in the United States. This comprehensive research project evaluated 25 innovative ideas proposed by social scientists and experts from around the globe, focusing on how to bridge the ideological divide between Democrats and Republicans.

The study was spearheaded by Jan Voelkel, a postdoctoral associate and soon-to-be assistant professor at Cornell University’s Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy. Voelkel emphasized the importance of implementing scalable interventions to alleviate tensions anticipated in the approaching electoral cycle. “There are many stakeholders invested in the goal of diminishing polarization while reinforcing democratic principles in the United States,” he noted. “Our findings provide valuable insights into which psychological triggers could be effective in successful interventions.”

Titled “Megastudy Testing 25 Treatments to Reduce Anti-democratic Attitudes and Partisan Animosity,” the research was published on October 17 in the journal Science. It is part of the Strengthening Democracy Challenge at Stanford University, where Voelkel completed his PhD. Voelkel pointed out that while the study of polarization has expanded significantly, inconsistent methodologies have made it difficult to compare various strategies effectively.

In response to rising concerns over political violence and unfounded allegations of election fraud, this study sought to thoroughly examine a range of strategies using a unified sampling approach, standardized outcomes, and control conditions.

The researchers cast a wide net by inviting input from academics and professionals spanning various fields—including think tanks, non-profits, and journalism—on effective methods to counteract partisan hostility and diminish support for anti-democratic practices. The response was robust, with 252 proposals submitted by individuals from 17 different countries, underscoring the global significance of U.S. democratic health. An advisory panel ultimately selected the 25 strategies that showed the most promise based on available funding.

Participants in the study were drawn from both major political parties, carefully matched to reflect diverse demographic factors such as gender, age, race, ethnicity, education, partisanship intensity, and geographical region. Participants were randomly assigned to either control or treatment groups, with treatments conducted online and taking approximately eight minutes to complete.

Key Findings on Reducing Partisan Animosity

Encouragingly, the study found that a majority of the tested interventions were effective in diminishing partisan animosity, with 23 out of the 25 strategies yielding significant reductions. The most impactful approaches included:

• Presenting relatable, sympathetic individuals with differing political views, exemplified by a British Heineken advertisement titled “Worlds Apart.” This ad depicted pairs of strangers discussing contentious topics, fostering mutual understanding over a shared beverage.
• Emphasizing a common cross-partisan identity, illustrating that both Democrats and Republicans likely represent an “exhausted majority” weary of divisiveness. Another effective narrative highlighted a shared American identity binding individuals from both sides of the aisle.

“We have a substantial understanding of how to mitigate basic animosity between political opponents, and the results were quite promising,” Voelkel expressed. “This is encouraging news for fostering a more collaborative political landscape.”

Understanding Anti-Democratic Attitudes

Conversely, insights into reducing anti-democratic sentiments remain limited, with only six strategies achieving notable success. Among the most effective were:

• Addressing exaggerated stereotypes regarding opposing partisans, revealing that actual support for undemocratic actions is significantly lower than perceived by opponents.
• Highlighting the severe implications of democratic erosion, exemplified by a video that interwove footage from nations experiencing democratic collapse alongside scenes from the January 6 Capitol riots, driving home the point that U.S. democracy is likewise at risk.
• Demonstrating institutional endorsements of democratic norms, such as the 2020 advertisement “One Nation,” in which gubernatorial candidates from Utah commit to upholding election results.

“We have much to explore in relation to anti-democratic views, and our findings offer a promising basis for further research,” Voelkel commented. “Our work indicates that reductions in these troubling attitudes are indeed possible.”

Interestingly, the study highlighted the need for careful assessment of the impact of particular strategies on various outcomes. While employing messages about the risks to democracy dampened support for undemocratic actions among both parties, it was more effective for Democrats than Republicans. Notably, showing the threats to democracy also inadvertently increased support for political violence among staunch conservatives, indicating a potential misinterpretation of the Capitol attack’s significance in that demographic.

A follow-up assessment conducted two weeks later with nearly 9,000 participants revealed that the initial positive effects of the interventions had diminished substantially, indicating a need for more frequent or intense application of these strategies. Potential avenues for enactment could include social media platforms reworking algorithms to emphasize moderate perspectives, mainstream media emphasizing pro-democratic narratives, and political leaders jointly advocating for democratic institutions and values.

“While there are viable strategies to lower polarization, we require systemic, large-scale interventions for lasting change,” Voelkel asserted. “The collaboration of numerous scientists on this initiative paves the way for equally ambitious efforts to implement these findings effectively.”

More information: Jan G. Voelkel et al, Megastudy testing 25 treatments to reduce antidemocratic attitudes and partisan animosity, Science (2024). DOI: 10.1126/science.adh4764

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phys.org