Original Study: Combs et al (2023): Reducing political polarization in the United States with a mobile chat platform; in: Nature Human Behavior, Vol. 7, September 2023, pp. 1454-1461.
The study in one sentence
This experimental study shows that anonymous cross-party conversations over a chat platform can help reduce political polarization.
Of interest to people who…
... want to know what can help to prevent or
reduce collective conflict spirals or polarization..
What to remember
Political polarisation is a major issue today, and the anonymity of the internet in particular is suspected of exacerbating hostile interactions. While studies on cross-party conversations offer mixed results, few have focused on the effects of anonymous online chats. This study conducted a well-designed experiment on a custom chat platform to explore how different conversation setups impact polarization. The study divided participants into four groups: 1) pairs aware of their opposing views, 2) pairs with opposing views who assumed similar views, 3) pairs unaware of each other's opposing views, and 4) a control group with no conversation, instead writing an essay on the controversial topics in focus. The results showed that all types of conversation reduced polarization compared to the control group. Respect and liking for the person with the opposing view increased significantly. In addition, the more civil language was used in the posts, the greater the depolarization effect. This study provides evidence that anonymous online conversations have the potential to reduce polarization even when the goal is not cooperation, especially when people are able to disagree respectfully.
The most insightful sentence
« Our findings show that anonymous online cross-party
conversations can help depolarize the public. »
The most provocative sentence
« Importantly, this depolarization occurred without explicit appeals for deliberation, empathy or cooperation by the intervention [...]. »
Consequences for managerial practice
This study provides valuable insights for companies how to bridge divides or ‘silos’ in their organizations that may have become destructively polarized. Consider situations such as a post-merger process where two companies want to integrate their operations, or different divisions and departments with competing goals. These types of divisive clashes can also occur across cultures, between certain stakeholder groups and management, or even within teams - between generations, or on a personal levels between managers who may be undermining each other. The first step in reducing - or preventing - polarization is not to push for agreement, but to allow respectful disagreement. Encouraging 1:1 conversations between individuals with differing views can help dismantle stereotypes and reduce hostility. By allowing people to connect on a personal level, they can express their perspectives and feel heard—an essential foundation for finding common ground. For managers, isolating groups in response to conflicts can deepen divides, while creating spaces and investing in competences for respectful disagreement, online and in person, can help prevent or even reverse cycles of animosity.
Food for forward-thinking…
There is a path out of polarization, and even longstanding established opposing views - and social media can help support it. What would a social media platform designed to support respectful disagreement look like? I am very curious to hear your ideas, either share here, or reach out to me directly.
