Polarization and Persuasion

Engaging Sociology in the Moral Universe of a Divided Democracy

Dados Bibliográficos

ID2363739
AutoresDennis J Downey (0000-0001-9842-9427, California State University Channel Islands, Camarillo, CA, USA, autor correspondente)
Ano2022
Volume65
Fascículo6
Páginas1029-1051
Data de publicação2022-12-01
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoSociological Perspectives (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 0731-1214 • E-ISSN: 1533-8673
EditoraSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/07311214221124443
OpenAlexW4296271570
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas5
Referências citadas79

Our divided democracy-characterized by partisan polarization and moralized opposition-presents significant challenges to sociologists who would use our discipline to create a more just society. I focus here on the strategic role of, and need for, deeper engagement across the political divide. I review current research on polarization-increasingly focused on attitudinal consolidation and partisan identity-to emphasize challenges to and opportunities for persuasion. I call for increased engagement in three strategic subfields of sociology: (1) social movements, to integrate persuasion more centrally into theories and research on collective social action; (2) social psychology, to engage the interdisciplinary field of moral cognition to develop effective strategies for persuasion; and (3) rural sociology, to understand more deeply the perspectives and moral frameworks essential to engagement across the divide

Democracy · Epistemology · Persuasion · Political science · Politics · Sociology · Climate Change Communication and Perception · Law · Psychology · Social and Cultural Dynamics · Social and Intergroup Psychology · Social Psychology