The Information Environment: A Recipe or Remedy for Affective Polarisation?

• In Event: Conflict Processes 3 & Political Psychology Virtual Poster Session
  In Virtual Poster Session: Political Psychology Virtual Poster Session

Abstract

Hostility between political opponents is widely seen to erode the functioning of democracy in the US, but such ‘affective polarisation’ amongst citizens appears to be on the rise around the world. Whilst partisan-ideological and social sorting explanations have received considerable attention in the literature, relatively little has been given to the possible role citizens’ political information environments might play in this growing hostility. An information environment featuring a plurality of views, sources and discussion partners is normatively assumed beneficial, as this should bolster tolerance and reduce animosity. We put this claim to the test using unique novel cross-national evidence.

Earlier research has focussed on ideological homogeneity in single domains - e.g. news-media diets or interpersonal networks – and arrived at mixed conclusions about its consequences. We contribute to the ongoing debate by moving beyond a single-domain study, examining online and offline interpersonal discussion networks, together with information search behaviours. Across these domains, we operationalise three relational features – interest, engagement and diversity – which may influence citizens’ affective evaluations of political opponents.

We field these measures in a unique cross-national survey spanning five countries. We test how they interact in creating affective polarisation, focussing on out-group hostility measured through thermometers and negative emotive attitudes (fear, anger and disgust). These items were piloted in the 18th round of the Norwegian Citizen Panel (n = 1,411), which showed that as ideological diversity decreases, affective evaluations become more negative, with the steepest growth in hostility found amongst the most engaged citizens.

Although case selection is still being finalised, the goal is to have diverse political systems represented in the cross-national study, which will be fielded in Spring 2021. Our results will provide much needed insight into how citizens’ relationship with their information environment can serve as either a recipe, or remedy for affective polarisation.

Author

• Haylee Kelsall, University of Amsterdam