August 4, 2025

Fear and Loathing? Affective Polarization Feels Less Negative Than Assumed

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Authors

PVPeter Luca VersteegenUniversity of Vienna KLKatharina LawallUniversity of Reading MTManos TsakirisUniversity of London

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Implication

Research uncovers emotions experienced toward in-party and out-party voters in Europe, suggesting affective polarization feels less negative than assumed.

Key Points

Affective polarization involves various emotions, influencing citizens' behavior in democracies.
Survey data from 4,794 respondents across five European countries reveal low levels of fear-related emotions.
Anger-related emotions are present, but positive emotions are more common among respondents.
Understanding these emotions helps reshape notions of affective polarization, indicating it may feel less severe.

Cite This Study

Versteegen et al. (2025) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/689a0f86e6551bb0af8d0a47 https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/xym8z_v1

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Implication

Research uncovers emotions experienced toward in-party and out-party voters in Europe, suggesting affective polarization feels less negative than assumed.

Fear and Loathing? Affective Polarization Feels Less Negative Than Assumed

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

Fear and Loathing? Affective Polarization Feels Less Negative Than Assumed

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

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