Tenhunen, Mai (2024) Effects of Moralized Attitudes, Disgust, Anger and Receptiveness on Affective Polarization: a Moderated Mediation Study. Bachelor thesis, Psychology.
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Abstract
Affective polarization has emerged as a salient issue across various social and political landscapes. Previous research has focused on how affective polarization is rooted in social identities and ideological divides, but due to the strength of moralized attitudes in influencing various forms of political and interpersonal behavior, we suggest that moralized attitudes might play a role in directly fostering affective polarization as well. Based on the understanding that moralized attitudes can elicit strong moral emotions, and that emotions can drive affective polarization, we consider that anger and disgust might serve as a mediating link in the relationship between moralized attitudes and affective polarization. We also explore whether conversational receptiveness might mitigate the experience of negative emotions, and thus indirectly reduce the experience of affective polarization. To investigate these research questions, we conducted an experimental study (N=146), where participants discussed a polarizing statement, refugee intake to the Netherlands, with someone who either disagrees or agrees with them on the statement. We found a strong, positive effect of moralized attitudes on levels of affective polarization in both conditions, and a mediating effect of disgust for this relationship, but no indication for a mediating role of anger or a moderating role of receptiveness. We conclude that moralized attitudes predict affective polarization, and that this relationship is partially mediated by the experience of disgust towards another's viewpoint. Results are discussed in terms of their implications for both practice and for current theory on the emergence of affective polarization. Keywords: affective polarization, moralized attitudes, disgust, anger, receptiveness
| Item Type: | Thesis (Bachelor) |
|---|---|
| Supervisor name: | Koudenburg, N. |
| Degree programme: | Psychology |
| Differentiation route: | None [Bachelor Psychology] |
| Date Deposited: | 24 Jan 2024 09:07 |
| Last Modified: | 24 Jan 2024 09:07 |
| URI: | http://gmwpublic.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/3022 |
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