The Polarizing Effect of Partisan Echo Chambers
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 3371129 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Sara B Hobolt (0000-0002-9742-9502, London School of Economics and Political Science, corresponding author), Katharina Lawall (0000-0002-6045-0105, University of London, corresponding author), James Tilley (0000-0002-1878-7628, University of Oxford, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2024 |
| Volume | 118 |
| Issue | 3 |
| Pages | 1464-1479 |
| Publication date | 2024-08-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | American Political Science Review (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0003-0554 • E-ISSN: 1537-5943 |
| Publisher | Cambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1017/s0003055423001211 |
| OpenAlex | W4389239522 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 42 |
| References cited | 62 |
We are witnessing increasing partisan polarization across the world. It is often argued that partisan "echo chambers" are one of the drivers of both policy and affective polarization. In this article, we develop and test the argument that the political homogeneity of people's social environment shapes polarization. Using an innovative, large-scale pre-registered "lab-in-the-field" experiment in the United Kingdom, we examine how polarization is influenced by partisan group homogeneity. We recruit nationally representative partisans and assign them to discuss a salient policy issue, either with like-minded partisans (an echo chamber) or in a mixed-partisan group. This allows us to examine how group composition affects polarization. In line with our expectations, we find that partisan echo chambers increase both policy and affective polarization compared to mixed discussion groups. This has important implications for our understanding of the drivers of polarization and for how out-group animosity might be ameliorated in the mass public
Polarization (electrochemistry · Political economy · Political science · Politics · Salient · Sociology · Chemistry · Electoral Systems and Political Participation · Law · Psychology · Social and Intergroup Psychology · Social Media and Politics · Social Psychology
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Informal social communication.
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| Unique citing works | 42 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 21 |
| Citation span | 2024 - 2026 (3) |
| Citation velocity | current |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 41 |