Publications by authors named "J J A van Bavel"
People generate evaluations of different attitude objects based on their goals and aspects of the social context. Prior research suggests that people can shift between at least three types of evaluations to judge whether something is good or bad: (how costly or beneficial it is), (whether it is aligned with moral norms), and (whether it feels good; Van Bavel et al., 2012).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIn addition to social determinants of health, such as economic resources, education, access to care and various environmental factors, there is growing evidence that political polarization poses a substantial risk to individual and collective well-being. Here we review the impact of political polarization on public health. We describe the different forms of polarization and how they are connected to health outcomes, highlighting the COVID-19 pandemic as a case study of the health risks of polarization.
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- Scholars are concerned that deep partisan divides among the public pose a risk to American democracy.
- A large study with over 32,000 participants tested 25 different strategies aimed at decreasing partisan animosity and support for undemocratic practices.
- Results showed that highlighting relatable individuals with differing beliefs and emphasizing shared identities were effective at reducing animosity, while correcting misunderstandings about rival views helped lessen support for undemocratic actions.
Article Synopsis
- The paper explores how modern technology, especially social media, distorts social norms, creating a "funhouse mirror" effect that can lead to extreme perceptions compared to real-life norms.
- It discusses the phenomenon of pluralistic ignorance, where false beliefs about social norms can mislead individuals about what is actually common behavior or opinion.
- By integrating findings from various fields, the authors propose a framework to understand and address these distortions, highlighting the negative impacts on both individual and societal levels, like increased misunderstanding and polarization.
Article Synopsis
- The study of intellectual humility (IH) is shifting from a focus on individuals to understanding it at a collective level, recognizing how group members can be aware of each other's intellectual limitations.
- Since people are often better at identifying others' weaknesses, achieving IH may be easier within groups than individually.
- The research suggests creating environments that foster a culture of IH, which could persist even as group members change, and highlights potential areas for future research.