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Continuous Theta Burst Stimulation of the Posterior Medial Frontal Cortex to Experimentally Reduce Ideological Threat Responses

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Putting the affect into affective polarisation.

Bert N Bakker¹, Yphtach Lelkes²

¹Amsterdam School of Communication Research, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

Cognition & Emotion

|June 7, 2024

Summary

Affective polarization, driven by emotions rather than policy, threatens democratic stability. Clarifying its definition and measurement is crucial for understanding its impact on political divides.

Keywords:

Affective polarisation core affect discrete emotions physiology

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Area of Science:

Political Science
Social Psychology
Communication Studies

Background:

Affective polarization is widely considered a threat to democratic stability.
Existing definitions and operationalizations of affective polarization vary significantly, leading to conceptual ambiguity.
A clearer understanding of the affective dimension of political divides is needed to study its micro-foundations.

Purpose of the Study:

To delineate affective polarization as distinct from policy-based disagreements.
To explore the role and conceptualization of emotions within political polarization.
To provide a foundation for future research on the emotional underpinnings of polarization.

Main Methods:

Literature review on affective polarization and the role of emotions in politics.
Analysis of existing datasets to supplement theoretical points.
Conceptual clarification of affective polarization.

Main Results:

Affective polarization is characterized by social divides rooted in emotions, distinct from policy disagreements.
The conceptualization of affect within polarization studies requires careful delineation.
Existing data can partially support the distinction between affective and policy divides.

Conclusions:

Precise definitions and operationalizations are essential for studying affective polarization.
Further research is needed to understand the precise degree to which political divides are affective.
Future research should focus on specific questions regarding emotion researchers' contributions to polarization studies.