Zero-sum beliefs and the avoidance of political conversations.

ABSTRACT: Although researchers have argued that exposure to diverse views may help reduce political divisions in society, people often avoid discussing politics with ideologically opposed others. We investigate the avoidance of political conversations surrounding highly contested elections in Israel and the U.S. Specifically, we examine the relationship between people's belief that politics is a zero-sum game and their tendency to avoid talking about politics with ideologically opposed others. In two studies conducted in the days leading up to their countries' elections, we found that Israeli and American voters who view politics as zero-sum avoided political discussions with ideologically opposed others. Furthermore, zero-sum beliefs about politics statistically predicted the avoidance of political

SUBMITTER: Boland FK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11332089 | biostudies-literature | 2024 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature