Luscuere, Marlou (2022) Coalition Formation and Polarisation in Group Discussions About Climate Change. Master thesis, Psychology.
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Abstract
In a discussion about climate change a vegan might be seen as a deviant, someone whose opinions differs from the group norm. In this research we investigate how the discussion and the influence of a vegan deviant might change when there is another deviant in the conversation: a climate change sceptic. In a general sample a climate change sceptic might be seen as an anti-norm deviant, their opinion deviates in an undesirable direction from the group norm, while a vegan can be seen as a pro-norm deviant. Anti-norm deviants are judged more negatively than pro-norm deviants. This qualitative study combines social psychology and communication sciences, and uses conversation analysis to investigate whether or not there might be more coalition formation in conversations with a climate change sceptic, and how these coalitions are formed. We found that discussions take place on different levels depending on the condition. In conversations without a sceptic, discussion mainly took place on the level of who should take responsibility in solving climate change, while in the conversations with a sceptic the discussion mainly focussed on the importance of climate change and the role of humans in causing it. While the vegan is often not part of coalitions in the conversations without a sceptic, he/she is included in the coalitions when a climate change sceptic is present. This study gives insights in the influence of deviants in the climate debate that might be useful in shaping the manner of discussing climate change and veganism in everyday life.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Master) |
|---|---|
| Supervisor name: | Koudenburg, N. and Huiskes, M. and Hoeks, J.C.J. |
| Degree programme: | Psychology |
| Differentiation route: | Applied Social Psychology (ASP) [Master Psychology] |
| Date Deposited: | 16 Sep 2022 08:03 |
| Last Modified: | 16 Sep 2022 08:03 |
| URI: | http://gmwpublic.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/1432 |
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