Tausch, Nicole, Birtel, Michèle D. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2383-9197, Górska, Paulina, Bode, Sidney and Rocha, Carolina (2024) A post-Brexit intergroup contact intervention reduces affective polarization between Leavers and Remainers short-term. Communications Psychology, 2:95. ISSN 2731-9121 (Online) (doi:10.1038/s44271-024-00146-w)

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Abstract

With mounting evidence of the harmful societal consequences of affective polarization, finding ways to address it is crucial. This study employed a randomized controlled trial to test the effectiveness of an intervention based on theories of intergroup contact and interpersonal communication in reducing affective polarization in the context of Brexit. Participants included 120 UK self-identified Leavers and Remainers. Sixty Leaver-Remainer dyads were randomized to engage in either a facilitated intergroup interaction or a control interaction, which was structurally and tonally equivalent but unrelated to Brexit identities. Aspects of affective polarization were assessed one month prior, immediately after, and one month post-intervention. The results indicate that the intervention increased warmth toward the outgroup, reduced unfavorable attributions of the sources of outgroup positions, and increased willingness to compromise, but only in the short term. There were no statistically significant longer-term effects. Evidence of selective attrition suggests that participants with more extreme baseline opinions were more likely to drop out. These findings highlight the challenges of designing interventions that create lasting attitude change in polarized contexts and of engaging individuals with extreme political views. This study provides a framework for future research.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	intergroup contact, affective polarization, Brexit
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology J Political Science > JA Political science (General) J Political Science > JN Political institutions (Europe) > JN101 Great Britain
Faculty / School / Research Centre / Research Group:	Faculty of Education, Health & Human Sciences Faculty of Education, Health & Human Sciences > Institute for Lifecourse Development Faculty of Education, Health & Human Sciences > Institute for Lifecourse Development > Centre for Mental Health Faculty of Education, Health & Human Sciences > School of Human Sciences (HUM)
Last Modified:	31 Oct 2024 15:51
URI:	http://gala.gre.ac.uk/id/eprint/48248

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