Threats, emotional reactions and affective polarization
Renström, Emma A. LU and Bäck, Hanna LU
(2025)
p.199-212
- Abstract
In this chapter, we discuss threats and emotions as drivers of affective polarization. We base our discussion on Social Identity Theory and Intergroup Threat Theory, with the basic idea that threats posed by other social groups strengthen intergroup differentiation. Drawing on intergroup threat theory, we argue that when individuals perceive an outgroup threatens the ingroup, they will react with negative emotions, such as fear or anger. These emotions have different consequences for cognitive processes and behavior, and especially anger reactions especially seem to result in affective polarization. We also discuss the moderating effects of individual-level differences, such as right-wing authoritarianism, which has been connected to a... (More)
In this chapter, we discuss threats and emotions as drivers of affective polarization. We base our discussion on Social Identity Theory and Intergroup Threat Theory, with the basic idea that threats posed by other social groups strengthen intergroup differentiation. Drawing on intergroup threat theory, we argue that when individuals perceive an outgroup threatens the ingroup, they will react with negative emotions, such as fear or anger. These emotions have different consequences for cognitive processes and behavior, and especially anger reactions especially seem to result in affective polarization. We also discuss the moderating effects of individual-level differences, such as right-wing authoritarianism, which has been connected to a heightened propensity to experience outgroup threat. We conclude by discussing several avenues for future research. We suggest that the literature stressing the role of social exclusion in the radicalization process might be fruitful to better understand affective polarization. We also suggest that social identity complexity theory may help us better understand how overlapping political identities may interact with threat perceptions and influence affective polarization in multiparty systems.
(Less)
- author
- Renström, Emma A.
LU
and Bäck, Hanna
LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2025-01-01
- type
- Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Anger, Emotions, Intergroup threat theory, Right-wing authoritarianism, Social identity
- host publication
- Handbook of Affective Polarization
- pages
- 14 pages
- publisher
- Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd.
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:105018410081
- ISBN
- 9781035310609
- 9781035310593
- DOI
- 10.4337/9781035310609.00022
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- additional info
- Publisher Copyright: © The Editors and Contributors Severally 2025.
- id
- 5d49d369-c922-45e5-83ec-9cfe05648a01
- date added to LUP
- 2026-01-26 11:11:22
- date last changed
- 2026-01-27 02:21:08
@inbook{5d49d369-c922-45e5-83ec-9cfe05648a01,
abstract = {{<p>In this chapter, we discuss threats and emotions as drivers of affective polarization. We base our discussion on Social Identity Theory and Intergroup Threat Theory, with the basic idea that threats posed by other social groups strengthen intergroup differentiation. Drawing on intergroup threat theory, we argue that when individuals perceive an outgroup threatens the ingroup, they will react with negative emotions, such as fear or anger. These emotions have different consequences for cognitive processes and behavior, and especially anger reactions especially seem to result in affective polarization. We also discuss the moderating effects of individual-level differences, such as right-wing authoritarianism, which has been connected to a heightened propensity to experience outgroup threat. We conclude by discussing several avenues for future research. We suggest that the literature stressing the role of social exclusion in the radicalization process might be fruitful to better understand affective polarization. We also suggest that social identity complexity theory may help us better understand how overlapping political identities may interact with threat perceptions and influence affective polarization in multiparty systems.</p>}},
author = {{Renström, Emma A. and Bäck, Hanna}},
booktitle = {{Handbook of Affective Polarization}},
isbn = {{9781035310609}},
keywords = {{Anger; Emotions; Intergroup threat theory; Right-wing authoritarianism; Social identity}},
language = {{eng}},
month = {{01}},
pages = {{199--212}},
publisher = {{Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd.}},
title = {{Threats, emotional reactions and affective polarization}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.4337/9781035310609.00022}},
doi = {{10.4337/9781035310609.00022}},
year = {{2025}},
}