Megastudy testing 25 treatments to reduce antidemocratic attitudes and partisan animosity

Jan G. Voelkel; Michael N. Stagnaro; James Y. Chu; Sophia L. Pink; Joseph S. Mernyk; Chrystal Redekopp; Isaias Ghezae; Matthew Cashman; Dhaval Adjodah; Levi G. Allen; L. Victor Allis; Gina Baleria; Nathan Ballantyne; Jay J. Van Bavel; Hayley Blunden; Alia Braley; Christopher J. Bryan; Jared B. Celniker; Mina Cikara; Margarett V. Clapper; Katherine Clayton; Hanne Collins; Evan DeFilippis; Macrina Dieffenbach; Kimberly C. Doell; Charles Dorison; Mylien Duong; Peter Felsman; Maya Fiorella; David Francis; Michael Franz; Roman A. Gallardo; Sara Gifford; Daniela Goya-Tocchetto; Kurt Gray; Joe Green; Joshua Greene; Mertcan Güngör; Matthew Hall; Cameron A. Hecht; Ali Javeed; John T. Jost; Aaron C. Kay; Nick R. Kay; Brandyn Keating; John Michael Kelly; James R.G. Kirk; Malka Kopell; Nour Kteily; Emily Kubin; Jeffrey Lees; Gabriel Lenz; Matthew Levendusky; Rebecca Littman; Kara Luo; Aaron Lyles; Ben Lyons; Wayde Marsh; James Martherus; Lauren Alpert Maurer; Caroline Mehl; Julia Minson; Molly Moore; Samantha L. Moore-Berg; Michael H. Pasek; Alex Pentland; Curtis Puryear; Hossein Rahnama; Steve Rathje; Jay Rosato; Maytal Saar-Tsechansky; Luiza Almeida Santos; Colleen M. Seifert; Azim Shariff; Otto Simonsson; Shiri Spitz Siddiqi; Daniel F. Stone; Palma Strand; Michael Tomz; David S. Yeager; Erez Yoeli; Jamil Zaki; James N. Druckman; David G. Rand; Robb Willer

doi:10.1126/science.adh4764

Megastudy testing 25 treatments to reduce antidemocratic attitudes and partisan animosity

Jan G. Voelkel, Michael N. Stagnaro, James Y. Chu, Sophia L. Pink, Joseph S. Mernyk, Chrystal Redekopp, Isaias Ghezae, Matthew Cashman, Dhaval Adjodah, Levi G. Allen, L. Victor Allis, Gina Baleria, Nathan Ballantyne, Jay J. Van Bavel, Hayley Blunden, Alia Braley, Christopher J. Bryan, Jared B. Celniker, Mina Cikara, Margarett V. ClapperKatherine Clayton, Hanne Collins, Evan DeFilippis, Macrina Dieffenbach, Kimberly C. Doell, Charles Dorison, Mylien Duong, Peter Felsman, Maya Fiorella, David Francis, Michael Franz, Roman A. Gallardo, Sara Gifford, Daniela Goya-Tocchetto, Kurt Gray, Joe Green, Joshua Greene, Mertcan Güngör, Matthew Hall, Cameron A. Hecht, Ali Javeed, John T. Jost, Aaron C. Kay, Nick R. Kay, Brandyn Keating, John Michael Kelly, James R.G. Kirk, Malka Kopell, Nour Kteily, Emily Kubin, Jeffrey Lees, Gabriel Lenz, Matthew Levendusky, Rebecca Littman, Kara Luo, Aaron Lyles, Ben Lyons, Wayde Marsh, James Martherus, Lauren Alpert Maurer, Caroline Mehl, Julia Minson, Molly Moore, Samantha L. Moore-Berg, Michael H. Pasek, Alex Pentland, Curtis Puryear, Hossein Rahnama, Steve Rathje, Jay Rosato, Maytal Saar-Tsechansky, Luiza Almeida Santos, Colleen M. Seifert, Azim Shariff, Otto Simonsson, Shiri Spitz Siddiqi, Daniel F. Stone, Palma Strand, Michael Tomz, David S. Yeager, Erez Yoeli, Jamil Zaki, James N. Druckman, David G. Rand, Robb Willer

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Abstract

Scholars warn that partisan divisions in the mass public threaten the health of American democracy. We conducted a megastudy (n = 32,059 participants) testing 25 treatments designed by academics and practitioners to reduce Americans' partisan animosity and antidemocratic attitudes. We find that many treatments reduced partisan animosity, most strongly by highlighting relatable sympathetic individuals with different political beliefs or by emphasizing common identities shared by rival partisans. We also identify several treatments that reduced support for undemocratic practices-most strongly by correcting misperceptions of rival partisans' views or highlighting the threat of democratic collapse-which shows that antidemocratic attitudes are not intractable. Taken together, the study's findings identify promising general strategies for reducing partisan division and improving democratic attitudes, shedding theoretical light on challenges facing American democracy.

Original language	English
Article number	eadh4764
Number of pages	12
Journal	Science
Volume	386
Issue number	6719
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1126/science.adh4764
Publication status	Published - 18-Oct-2024

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Voelkel, J. G., Stagnaro, M. N., Chu, J. Y., Pink, S. L., Mernyk, J. S., Redekopp, C., Ghezae, I., Cashman, M., Adjodah, D., Allen, L. G., Allis, L. V., Baleria, G., Ballantyne, N., Van Bavel, J. J., Blunden, H., Braley, A., Bryan, C. J., Celniker, J. B., Cikara, M., ... Willer, R. (2024). Megastudy testing 25 treatments to reduce antidemocratic attitudes and partisan animosity. Science, 386(6719), Article eadh4764. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.adh4764

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title = "Megastudy testing 25 treatments to reduce antidemocratic attitudes and partisan animosity",

abstract = "Scholars warn that partisan divisions in the mass public threaten the health of American democracy. We conducted a megastudy (n = 32,059 participants) testing 25 treatments designed by academics and practitioners to reduce Americans' partisan animosity and antidemocratic attitudes. We find that many treatments reduced partisan animosity, most strongly by highlighting relatable sympathetic individuals with different political beliefs or by emphasizing common identities shared by rival partisans. We also identify several treatments that reduced support for undemocratic practices-most strongly by correcting misperceptions of rival partisans' views or highlighting the threat of democratic collapse-which shows that antidemocratic attitudes are not intractable. Taken together, the study's findings identify promising general strategies for reducing partisan division and improving democratic attitudes, shedding theoretical light on challenges facing American democracy.",

author = "Voelkel, {Jan G.} and Stagnaro, {Michael N.} and Chu, {James Y.} and Pink, {Sophia L.} and Mernyk, {Joseph S.} and Chrystal Redekopp and Isaias Ghezae and Matthew Cashman and Dhaval Adjodah and Allen, {Levi G.} and Allis, {L. Victor} and Gina Baleria and Nathan Ballantyne and {Van Bavel}, {Jay J.} and Hayley Blunden and Alia Braley and Bryan, {Christopher J.} and Celniker, {Jared B.} and Mina Cikara and Clapper, {Margarett V.} and Katherine Clayton and Hanne Collins and Evan DeFilippis and Macrina Dieffenbach and Doell, {Kimberly C.} and Charles Dorison and Mylien Duong and Peter Felsman and Maya Fiorella and David Francis and Michael Franz and Gallardo, {Roman A.} and Sara Gifford and Daniela Goya-Tocchetto and Kurt Gray and Joe Green and Joshua Greene and Mertcan G{\"u}ng{\"o}r and Matthew Hall and Hecht, {Cameron A.} and Ali Javeed and Jost, {John T.} and Kay, {Aaron C.} and Kay, {Nick R.} and Brandyn Keating and Kelly, {John Michael} and Kirk, {James R.G.} and Malka Kopell and Nour Kteily and Emily Kubin and Jeffrey Lees and Gabriel Lenz and Matthew Levendusky and Rebecca Littman and Kara Luo and Aaron Lyles and Ben Lyons and Wayde Marsh and James Martherus and Maurer, {Lauren Alpert} and Caroline Mehl and Julia Minson and Molly Moore and Moore-Berg, {Samantha L.} and Pasek, {Michael H.} and Alex Pentland and Curtis Puryear and Hossein Rahnama and Steve Rathje and Jay Rosato and Maytal Saar-Tsechansky and {Almeida Santos}, Luiza and Seifert, {Colleen M.} and Azim Shariff and Otto Simonsson and {Spitz Siddiqi}, Shiri and Stone, {Daniel F.} and Palma Strand and Michael Tomz and Yeager, {David S.} and Erez Yoeli and Jamil Zaki and Druckman, {James N.} and Rand, {David G.} and Robb Willer",

year = "2024",

month = oct,

day = "18",

doi = "10.1126/science.adh4764",

language = "English",

volume = "386",

journal = "Science",

issn = "0036-8075",

publisher = "AMER ASSOC ADVANCEMENT SCIENCE",

number = "6719",

}

Voelkel, JG, Stagnaro, MN, Chu, JY, Pink, SL, Mernyk, JS, Redekopp, C, Ghezae, I, Cashman, M, Adjodah, D, Allen, LG, Allis, LV, Baleria, G, Ballantyne, N, Van Bavel, JJ, Blunden, H, Braley, A, Bryan, CJ, Celniker, JB, Cikara, M, Clapper, MV, Clayton, K, Collins, H, DeFilippis, E, Dieffenbach, M, Doell, KC, Dorison, C, Duong, M, Felsman, P, Fiorella, M, Francis, D, Franz, M, Gallardo, RA, Gifford, S, Goya-Tocchetto, D, Gray, K, Green, J, Greene, J, Güngör, M, Hall, M, Hecht, CA, Javeed, A, Jost, JT, Kay, AC, Kay, NR, Keating, B, Kelly, JM, Kirk, JRG, Kopell, M, Kteily, N, Kubin, E, Lees, J, Lenz, G, Levendusky, M, Littman, R, Luo, K, Lyles, A, Lyons, B, Marsh, W, Martherus, J, Maurer, LA, Mehl, C, Minson, J, Moore, M, Moore-Berg, SL, Pasek, MH, Pentland, A, Puryear, C, Rahnama, H, Rathje, S, Rosato, J, Saar-Tsechansky, M, Almeida Santos, L, Seifert, CM, Shariff, A, Simonsson, O, Spitz Siddiqi, S, Stone, DF, Strand, P, Tomz, M, Yeager, DS, Yoeli, E, Zaki, J, Druckman, JN, Rand, DG & Willer, R 2024, 'Megastudy testing 25 treatments to reduce antidemocratic attitudes and partisan animosity', Science, vol. 386, no. 6719, eadh4764. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.adh4764

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T1 - Megastudy testing 25 treatments to reduce antidemocratic attitudes and partisan animosity

AU - Voelkel, Jan G.

AU - Stagnaro, Michael N.

AU - Chu, James Y.

AU - Pink, Sophia L.

AU - Mernyk, Joseph S.

AU - Redekopp, Chrystal

AU - Ghezae, Isaias

AU - Cashman, Matthew

AU - Adjodah, Dhaval

AU - Allen, Levi G.

AU - Allis, L. Victor

AU - Baleria, Gina

AU - Ballantyne, Nathan

AU - Van Bavel, Jay J.

AU - Blunden, Hayley

AU - Braley, Alia

AU - Bryan, Christopher J.

AU - Celniker, Jared B.

AU - Cikara, Mina

AU - Clapper, Margarett V.

AU - Clayton, Katherine

AU - Collins, Hanne

AU - DeFilippis, Evan

AU - Dieffenbach, Macrina

AU - Doell, Kimberly C.

AU - Dorison, Charles

AU - Duong, Mylien

AU - Felsman, Peter

AU - Fiorella, Maya

AU - Francis, David

AU - Franz, Michael

AU - Gallardo, Roman A.

AU - Gifford, Sara

AU - Goya-Tocchetto, Daniela

AU - Gray, Kurt

AU - Green, Joe

AU - Greene, Joshua

AU - Güngör, Mertcan

AU - Hall, Matthew

AU - Hecht, Cameron A.

AU - Javeed, Ali

AU - Jost, John T.

AU - Kay, Aaron C.

AU - Kay, Nick R.

AU - Keating, Brandyn

AU - Kelly, John Michael

AU - Kirk, James R.G.

AU - Kopell, Malka

AU - Kteily, Nour

AU - Kubin, Emily

AU - Lees, Jeffrey

AU - Lenz, Gabriel

AU - Levendusky, Matthew

AU - Littman, Rebecca

AU - Luo, Kara

AU - Lyles, Aaron

AU - Lyons, Ben

AU - Marsh, Wayde

AU - Martherus, James

AU - Maurer, Lauren Alpert

AU - Mehl, Caroline

AU - Minson, Julia

AU - Moore, Molly

AU - Moore-Berg, Samantha L.

AU - Pasek, Michael H.

AU - Pentland, Alex

AU - Puryear, Curtis

AU - Rahnama, Hossein

AU - Rathje, Steve

AU - Rosato, Jay

AU - Saar-Tsechansky, Maytal

AU - Almeida Santos, Luiza

AU - Seifert, Colleen M.

AU - Shariff, Azim

AU - Simonsson, Otto

AU - Spitz Siddiqi, Shiri

AU - Stone, Daniel F.

AU - Strand, Palma

AU - Tomz, Michael

AU - Yeager, David S.

AU - Yoeli, Erez

AU - Zaki, Jamil

AU - Druckman, James N.

AU - Rand, David G.

AU - Willer, Robb

PY - 2024/10/18

Y1 - 2024/10/18

N2 - Scholars warn that partisan divisions in the mass public threaten the health of American democracy. We conducted a megastudy (n = 32,059 participants) testing 25 treatments designed by academics and practitioners to reduce Americans' partisan animosity and antidemocratic attitudes. We find that many treatments reduced partisan animosity, most strongly by highlighting relatable sympathetic individuals with different political beliefs or by emphasizing common identities shared by rival partisans. We also identify several treatments that reduced support for undemocratic practices-most strongly by correcting misperceptions of rival partisans' views or highlighting the threat of democratic collapse-which shows that antidemocratic attitudes are not intractable. Taken together, the study's findings identify promising general strategies for reducing partisan division and improving democratic attitudes, shedding theoretical light on challenges facing American democracy.

AB - Scholars warn that partisan divisions in the mass public threaten the health of American democracy. We conducted a megastudy (n = 32,059 participants) testing 25 treatments designed by academics and practitioners to reduce Americans' partisan animosity and antidemocratic attitudes. We find that many treatments reduced partisan animosity, most strongly by highlighting relatable sympathetic individuals with different political beliefs or by emphasizing common identities shared by rival partisans. We also identify several treatments that reduced support for undemocratic practices-most strongly by correcting misperceptions of rival partisans' views or highlighting the threat of democratic collapse-which shows that antidemocratic attitudes are not intractable. Taken together, the study's findings identify promising general strategies for reducing partisan division and improving democratic attitudes, shedding theoretical light on challenges facing American democracy.

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DO - 10.1126/science.adh4764

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C2 - 39418366

AN - SCOPUS:85206798442

SN - 0036-8075

VL - 386

JO - Science

JF - Science

IS - 6719

M1 - eadh4764

ER -

Megastudy testing 25 treatments to reduce antidemocratic attitudes and partisan animosity

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