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A new study is redefining how we understand affective polarization. The study proposes that disappointment, rather than hatred, may be the dominant emotion driving the growing divide between ideological groups.

The findings are published in the journal Cognition and Emotion. The team was led by Ph.D. student Mabelle Kretchner from the Department of Psychology at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, under the supervision of Prof. Eran Halperin and in collaboration with Prof. Sivan Hirsch-Hoefler from Reichman University and Dr. Julia Elad-Strenger from Bar Ilan University.

Affective polarization, characterized by deepening negative feelings between members of opposing ideological groups, is a major concern to democratic stability worldwide. While numerous studies have examined the causes and potential solutions to this phenomenon, the emotional underpinnings of affective polarization have remained poorly understood.

The study addresses a critical gap in current research, which typically relies on one-dimensional measures of affect, that gauges the general positive or negative feelings (ranging from cold to warm) of ideological group members toward their opponents. This traditional approach, according to Kretchner and her colleagues, oversimplifies the complex emotional landscape between ideological group members. Instead, their research advocates for a more nuanced exploration of discrete emotions, emphasizing the role of disappointment.

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