Moderating political polarization through affect labeling: An experiment

Pedro Hemsley () and Lynda Pavão ()
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Pedro Hemsley: UFRJ
Lynda Pavão: State University of Rio de Janeiro

Economics Bulletin, 2025, vol. 45, issue 1, 321 - 331

Abstract: Affect labelling, the process of putting feelings into words, has been shown to have a calming effect on the brain. This study examines the impact of affect labelling on political polarization over Covid-mitigation measures, an emotionally-charged topic that led to large differences of opinion. We conducted an online experiment in which participants in a treatment group, randomly assigned, underwent a questionnaire to label their feelings before reporting their opinions. We found that affect labeling reduced polarization for young individuals, up to the age of 29, a demographic characterized by intense emotional responses due to increased activity in the amygdala, the region of the brain whose activity is reduced by affect labeling.

Keywords: Affect labeling; Political polarization; Covid-19 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C9 D7 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025-03-30
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