Close Menu
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest YouTube LinkedIn TikTok
    TopBuzzMagazine.com
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest YouTube LinkedIn TikTok
    • Home
    • Movies
    • Television
    • Music
    • Fashion
    • Books
    • Science
    • Technology
    • Cover Story
    • Contact
      • About
      • Amazon Disclaimer
      • Terms and Conditions
      • Privacy Policy
      • DMCA / Copyrights Disclaimer
    TopBuzzMagazine.com
    Home»Science»In-group perceptions play outsized role in driving political extremism, according to study
    Science

    In-group perceptions play outsized role in driving political extremism, according to study

    By AdminAugust 7, 2025
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    In-group perceptions play outsized role in driving political extremism, according to study


    group
    Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

    Reducing the rising tide of political extremism—and violence—in the United States and beyond may require a rethinking of how we understand the forces that drive polarization, according to a study from the University of Toronto.

    Historically, researchers have focused on “out-group meta-perceptions,” or how individuals believe they are perceived by those with opposing political views—for example, how a U.S. Republican thinks Democrats view Republicans.

    But Spike Lee, an associate professor at the Rotman School of Management, says that’s only part of the equation.

    “People’s meta-perception tends to be exaggerated; they tend to exaggerate how badly the other side feels about their side,” says Lee, who is cross-appointed to the department of psychology in the Faculty of Arts & Science.

    In the study based on both a reevaluation of existing data and new trials, Lee and his students found that perceptions within one’s own political group play an even greater role in shaping polarization and the willingness to endorse political violence. Specifically, individuals who mistakenly believe their own party holds extreme views are far more likely to support political violence than those who do not. The findings are published in the journal PNAS Nexus.

    In other words, if you perceive your party as extreme—even if that perception is inaccurate—you’re more likely to support violence against an opposing political group.

    The research also found that perceptions of how the “other side” views your party have no direct impact—a departure from conventional thinking in the field.

    “It turns out the in-group norm perception matters a lot more than the meta-perception,” Lee says. “If people think, “Our side really hates the other side,” that has an even stronger predicative effect on political violence.”

    Identity politics

    Lee adds that in-group dynamics are especially influential at a time when politics are increasingly tied to personal identity and belonging, rather than policy differences.

    “When we are thinking about politics, it’s about wanting to fit into a social network,” he says. “We want to feel like we are part of this force that is on the right side of history; that in-group identity looms large.

    “People are more driven by where they want to belong than who they want to fight against.”

    Fighting polarization with facts

    While facts may settle few political arguments these days, Lee believes they can still help reduce political violence.

    He points to a body of research showing that correcting misconceptions about how people with opposing views feel about each other can significantly reduce polarization and the willingness to endorse political violence.

    “When you correct people’s wrong meta-perceptions—you tell them, “We’ve done a bunch of surveys, and these are the actual responses. You think they hate you at a level 10 intensity but it’s really more like five’—correcting that perception reduces the toxicity in partisan relations,” he says.

    Lee’s research shows that the same strategy works when correcting misconceptions about how one’s own political group feels about the other.

    “It’s basically the same kind of intervention that the meta-perception researchers have been doing,” he says. “Except that you don’t present information about how the out-group views the in-group; Instead, you present information about how the in-group feels towards the out-group.”

    Lee also notes that social media, which is designed to amplify the most extreme voices, distorts users’ perceptions of the majority’s actual beliefs on both sides. Dispelling that myth, he says, could have a significant impact.

    Finding a common cause

    Another way to combat political extremism, Lee suggests, is by rallying people around a shared goal.

    “The best way to overcome divisions is to unite people together against something that will threaten all of them, or to unite around a common vision,” he says, pointing to the recent rise in Canadian unity in the wake of President Donald Trump’s threats against Canada’s sovereignty as a prime example.

    “When people have a shared vision that they all believe in … they will ignore their differences and gravitate towards it.”

    More information:
    Zi Ting You et al, Explanations of and interventions against affective polarization cannot afford to ignore the power of ingroup norm perception, PNAS Nexus (2024). DOI: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgae286

    Provided by
    University of Toronto


    Citation:
    In-group perceptions play outsized role in driving political extremism, according to study (2025, August 7)
    retrieved 7 August 2025
    from https://phys.org/news/2025-08-group-perceptions-play-outsized-role.html

    This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no
    part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.

    View Original Source Here

    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email

    Related Posts

    Unpicking the genetics of fibromyalgia sheds new light on its causes

    October 25, 2025

    Google claims its latest quantum algorithm can outperform supercomputers on a real-world task

    October 24, 2025

    New images of interstellar object 3I/ATLAS show giant ‘jet’ shooting toward the sun

    October 24, 2025

    Civet coffee: The real chemistry behind this bizarre luxury drink

    October 23, 2025

    Comprehensive study examines properties of 1,449 planetary nebulae across the Milky Way

    October 23, 2025

    Mysterious glow at the Milky Way’s center could reshape a major cosmic theory

    October 22, 2025
    popular posts

    AI masters video game 6000 times faster by reading the

    Research seeks to develop mRNA lipid nanoparticles for next-generation oral

    Metamaterial significantly enhances chiral nanoparticle signals

    This $18 Fridge Magnet Can Be Personalized to Play Your Favorite Song

    Books & Looks Podcast: From Bucharest to Books: Author William

    Romeo Santos Delivers Bachata Hits, Brings Out Anuel AA During

    A new study makes the case for asteroid strikes setting

    Categories
    • Books (3,491)
    • Cover Story (8)
    • Events (20)
    • Fashion (2,572)
    • Interviews (47)
    • Movies (2,791)
    • Music (3,076)
    • News (162)
    • Politics (6)
    • Science (4,642)
    • Technology (2,786)
    • Television (3,516)
    • Uncategorized (932)
    Archives
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest YouTube Reddit TikTok
    © 2025 Top Buzz Magazine. All rights reserved. All articles, images, product names, logos, and brands are property of their respective owners. All company, product and service names used in this website are for identification purposes only. Use of these names, logos, and brands does not imply endorsement unless specified. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

    We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
    Do not sell my personal information.
    Cookie SettingsAccept
    Manage consent

    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
    Necessary
    Always Enabled
    Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
    CookieDurationDescription
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
    viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
    Functional
    Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
    Performance
    Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
    Analytics
    Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
    Advertisement
    Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
    Others
    Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
    SAVE & ACCEPT