The general fault in our fault lines
- Author(s)
- K. Ruggeri, B. Većkalov, L. Bojanić, T.L. Andersen, S. Ashcroft-Jones, N. Ayacaxli, P. Barea-Arroyo, M.L. Berge, L.D. Bjørndal, A. Bursalıoğlu, V. Bühler, M. Čadek, M. Çetinçelik, A. Cortijos-Bernabeu, K. Damnjanović, T.M. Dugue, M. Esberg, C. Esteban-Serna, E.N. Felder, M. Friedemann, D.I. Frontera-Villanueva, E. Garcia-Garzon, S.J. Geiger, Leya George, A. Girardello, Aleksandra Gracheva, Anastasia Gracheva, M. Guillory, K. Herte, B. Hubená, W. Ingalls, Lea Jakob, M. Janssens, H. Jarke, O. Kácha, K.N. Kalinova, R. Karakasheva, P.R. Khorrami, Ž. Lep, I.S. Lofthus, S. Mamede, S. Mareva, M.F. Mascarenhas, L. McGill, S. Morales-Izquierdo, B. Moltrecht, T.S. Mueller, M. Musetti, J. Nelsson, T. Otto, I. Pavlović, M.B. Petrović, D. Popović, J. Razum, I. Sakelariev, V. Samuels, I. Sanguino, N. Say, J. Schuck, I. Soysal, A.L. Todsen, M.R. Tünte, M. Vdovic, M. Vovko, M.A. Vranka, L. Wilkins, M. Willems, E. Wisdom, A. Yosifova, S. Zeng, T. Dwarkanath, M. Cikara, J. Lees, T. Folke, Georgia Clay, Patricia Gale, Marlene Hecht, Samuel Lins, Alessandro F. Paul, Gerhard M. Prinz, Jáchym Vintr, Lisa Wagner, Mahmoud A. Ahmed
- Abstract
Pervading global narratives suggest that political polarization is increasing, yet the accuracy of such group meta-perceptions has been drawn into question. A recent US study suggests that these beliefs are inaccurate and drive polarized beliefs about out-groups. However, it also found that informing people of inaccuracies reduces those negative beliefs. In this work, we explore whether these results generalize to other countries. To achieve this, we replicate two of the original experiments with 10,207 participants across 26 countries. We focus on local group divisions, which we refer to as fault lines. We find broad generalizability for both inaccurate meta-perceptions and reduced negative motive attribution through a simple disclosure intervention. We conclude that inaccurate and negative group meta-perceptions are exhibited in myriad contexts and that informing individuals of their misperceptions can yield positive benefits for intergroup relations. Such generalizability highlights a robust phenomenon with implications for political discourse worldwide.
- Organisation(s)
- Department of Developmental and Educational Psychology
- External organisation(s)
- Columbia University in the City of New York, University of Cambridge, University of Amsterdam (UvA), University of Manchester, Pædagogisk Psykologisk Rådgivning, University of Oxford, Universidad de Sevilla, Eötvös Loránd University Budapest, University of Oslo, Loyola University Chicago, University College London, Leeds Beckett University, Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics, Université de Lausanne, University of Belgrade, University of Puerto Rico, University of Zagreb, Universidad Camilo José Cela, Institut d’études politiques de Paris, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Utrecht University, National institute of mental health Czech Republic, Charles University Prague, Tilburg University, Harvard University, University of Ljubljana, Universidade do Porto, Universidade de Lisboa, University of Groningen, University of Warwick, University of Padova, Uppsala University, Leiden University, Bezirkskrankenhaus Straubing, Institut Društvenih Znanosti Ivo Pilar, Prague University of Economics and Business, Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen, University of St. Andrews, Singidunum University, Universität Zürich (UZH), New Bulgarian University, St. Olaf College, Clemson University, Technische Universität Dresden
- Journal
- Nature Human Behaviour
- Volume
- 5
- Pages
- 1369-1380
- No. of pages
- 12
- ISSN
- 2397-3374
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41562-021-01092-x
- Publication date
- 04-2021
- Peer reviewed
- Yes
- Austrian Fields of Science 2012
- 501021 Social psychology
- ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Experimental and Cognitive Psychology, Social Psychology, Behavioral Neuroscience
- Portal url
- https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/en/publications/301eae9b-61af-40fb-b580-2a1b6795b4c7