Social psychology of political polarization / edited by Piercarlo Valdesolo and Jesse Graham.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Valdesolo, Piercarlo, editor.

Graham, Jesse, editor.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Divided government--United States.

Divided government.

Political parties--United States.

Political parties.

United States.

Political culture--United States.

Political culture.

Political psychology.

Social psychology.

United States--Politics and government.

Politics and government.

Physical Description:

x, 216 pages ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

New York, NY : Routledge, 2016.

Summary:

The 21st-century political landscape has been defined by deep ideological polarization, and as a result scientific inquiry into the psychological mechanisms underlying this divide has taken on increased relevance. The topic is by no means new to social psychology. Classic literature on intergroup conflict shows how pervasive and intractable these group conflicts can be, how readily they can emerge from even minimal group identities, and the hedonic rewards reaped from adopting an "us vs. them" perspective. Indeed, this literature paints a bleak picture for the efficacy of any interventions geared toward reducing intergroup discord. But advances in the psychology of moral judgments and behavior, in particular greater understanding of how moral concerns might inform the creation and stability of political identities, offer new ways forward in understanding partisan divides. This volume brings together leading researchers in moral and political psychology, offering new perspectives on the moral roots of political ideology, and exciting new opportunities for the development of more effective applied interventions. Book jacket.

Contents:

Section I Ideological Divides in Society 5

1 Liberals and Conservatives are (Geographically) Dividing / Matt Motyl Motyl, Matt 7

2 The Left-Right Landscape Over Time: The View from a Western European Multi-Party Democracy / Hulda Thórisdóttir Thórisdóttir, Hulda 38

Section II Psychological Mechanisms of Ideological Divides 59

3 Ideological Differences in the Expanse of Empathy / Adam Waytz Waytz, Adam, Ravi Iyer Iyer, Ravi, Liane Young Young, Liane, Jesse Graham Graham, Jesse 61

4 Are Conservatives from Mars and Liberals from Venus? Maybe Not So Much / Linda J. Skitka Skitka, Linda J., Anthony N. Washburn Washburn, Anthony N. 78

5 Moral Coherence and Political Conflict / Peter H. Ditto Ditto, Peter H., Brittany S. Liu Liu, Brittany S. 102

6 Restraining Self-interest or Enabling Altruism: Morality and Politics / Nate C. Carnes Carnes, Nate C., Ronnie Janoff-Bulman Janoff-Bulman, Ronnie 123

7 From Silos to Synergies: The Effects of Construal Level on Political Polarization / Jaime L. Napier Napier, Jaime L., Jamie B. Luguri Luguri, Jamie B. 143

Section III Ideological Divides in Social Psychology 163

8 The Politics of Social Psychological Science: Distortions in the Social Psychology of Intergroup Relations / Lee Jussim Jussim, Lee, Janet T. Crawford Crawford, Janet T., Sean T. Stevens Stevens, Sean T., Stephanie M. Anglin Anglin, Stephanie M. 165

9 Political Diversity in Social Psychology: Problems and Solutions / Yoel Inbar Inbar, Yoel, Joris Lammers Lammers, Joris 197.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9781138810631

1138810630

9781138810648

1138810649

OCLC:

944379380