|
| |
| Pedro Hemsley and Lynda Pavão |
| |
| ''Moderating political polarization through affect labeling: An experiment'' |
| ( 2025, Vol. 45 No.1 ) |
| |
| |
| Affect labelling, the process of putting feelings into words, has been shown to have a calming effect on the brain. This study examines the impact of affect labelling on political polarization over Covid-mitigation measures, an emotionally-charged topic that led to large differences of opinion. We conducted an online experiment in which participants in a treatment group, randomly assigned, underwent a questionnaire to label their feelings before reporting their opinions. We found that affect labeling reduced polarization for young individuals, up to the age of 29, a demographic characterized by intense emotional responses due to increased activity in the amygdala, the region of the brain whose activity is reduced by affect labeling. |
| |
| |
| Keywords: Affect labeling, Political polarization, Covid-19 |
JEL: D7 - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making: General
C9 - Design of Experiments: General |
| |
| Manuscript Received : Mar 16 2025 | | Manuscript Accepted : Mar 30 2025 |
|
