Group polarization: Difference between revisions

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{{see also|Reinforcement theory|Selective exposure theory|Subjective validation}}

'''Attitude polarization''', also known as '''belief polarization''' and '''polarization effect''', is a phenomenon in which a disagreement becomes more extreme as the different parties consider evidence on the issue. It is one of the effects of ''[[confirmation bias]]'': the tendency of people to search for and interpret evidence selectively, to reinforce their current beliefs or attitudes.<ref>{{wikicite|id=idFine2006a|reference=Fine, Cordelia (2006a). ''A Mind of its Own - How Your Brain Distorts and Deceives''. [[W. W. Norton]]. {{ISBN|0-393-06213-9}}}}</ref> When people encounter ambiguous evidence, this bias can potentially result in each of them interpreting it as in support of their existing attitudes, widening rather than narrowing the disagreement between them.<ref name = lordrosslepper>{{cite journal|title = Biased assimilation and attitude polarization: The effects of prior theories on subsequently considered evidence |last1= Lord|first1 = C. G.|last2=Ross|first2= L.|last3= Lepper|first3 = M. R.|date =1979|journal = Journal of Personality and Social Psychology|volume= 37|number=11|pages= 2098-2109|doi = 10.1037/0022-3514.37.11.2098 }}</ref>

The effect is observed with issues that activate emotions, such as political "hot button" issues.<ref>{{cite journal|title = Motivated Skepticism in the Evaluation of Political Beliefs|journal = American Journal of Political Science|volume = 50|issue = 3|date = July 2006|pages = 755-769 |first1 = Charles S.|last1 = Taber|first2= Milton|last2= Lodge|doi = 10.1111/j.1540-5907.2006.00214.x }}</ref> For most issues, new evidence does not produce a polarization effect.<ref name = KuhnLao>{{cite journal|title = Effects of Evidence on Attitudes: Is Polarization the Norm?|first1= Deanna|last1= Kuhn|first2= Joseph|last2= Lao|date = 1996|journal = Psychological Science|doi = 10.1111/j.1467-9280.1996.tb00340.x |volume=7|issue =2|pages = 115-120 }}</ref> For those issues where polarization is found, mere thinking about the issue, without contemplating new evidence, produces the effect.<ref name = KuhnLao/> Social comparison processes have also been invoked as an explanation for the effect, which is increased by settings in which people repeat and validate each other's statements.<ref>{{cite journal|last1= Brauer |first1 =Mark J. |last2= Judd|first2= Charles Mosley|last3=Gliner|first3= M D|date=1995|title = The effects of repeated expressions on attitude polarization during group discussions|journal = Journal of Personality and Social Psychology|volume = 68|number = 6|pages = 1014-1029|doi = 10.1037/0022-3514.68.6.1014}}</ref> This apparent tendency is of interest not only to [[Psychology |psychologists]], but also to [[sociologist]]s<ref>{{cite journal|title= Dynamics of Political Polarization|first1=Delia |last1=Baldassarri |first2=Peter|last2= Bearman|journal=American Sociological Review |date=October 2007|volume =72|number =5|pages =784-811|jstor=25472492 }}</ref> and [[philosopher]]s.{{sfn|Kelly|2008}}{{expand citation}}

=== Empirical findings ===

Since the late 1960s, psychologists have carried out a number of studies on various aspects of attitude polarization.

In 1979, [[Charles Lord]], [[Lee Ross]] and [[Mark Lepper]]{{sfn|Lord|Ross|Lepper|1979}}<ref name=lordrosslepper/> performed a study in which they selected two groups of people, one group strongly in favor of [[capital punishment]], the other strongly opposed. The researchers initially measured the strength with which people held their position. Later, both the pro- and anti-capital punishment people were put into small groups and shown one of two cards, each containing a statement about the results of a research project written on it. For example:<blockquote>Kroner and Phillips (1977) compared murder rates for the year before and the year after adoption of capital punishment in 14 states. In 11 of the 14 states, murder rates were lower after adoption of the death penalty. This research supports the deterrent effect of the death penalty.{{sfn|Lord|Ross|Lepper|1979|p=2100}}</blockquote>or:<blockquote>Palmer and Crandall (1977) compared murder rates in 10 pairs of neighboring states with different capital punishment laws. In 8 of the 10 pairs, murder rates were higher in the state with capital punishment. This research opposes the deterrent effect of the death penalty.{{sfn|Lord|Ross|Lepper|1979|p=2100}}</blockquote>The researchers again asked people about the strength of their beliefs about the deterrence effect of the death penalty, and, this time, also asked them about the effect that the research had had on their attitudes.

In the next stage of the research, the participants were given more information about the study described on the card they received, including details of the research, critiques of the research, and the researchers' responses to those critiques. The participants' degree of commitment to their original positions were re-measured, and the participants were asked about the quality of the research and the effect the research had on their beliefs. Finally, the trial was rerun on all participants using a card that supported the opposite position to that they had initially seen.