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Cited by 22Electoral Systems and Political ParticipationSocial and Intergroup PsychologyMedia Influence and Politics

Social Desirability and Affective Polarization

Connors, Elizabeth C·2023·Public Opinion Quarterly
DOI 10.1093/poq/nfad053
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Abstract

Media coverage of affective polarization—partisans disliking and distrusting out-partisans while liking and trusting in-partisans—is abundant, both creating and reflecting a belief among the public that partisans are more affectively polarized than they are. These trends suggest that affective polarization among partisans could be viewed as socially desirable, which may then shape partisans’ expressed attitudes and behavior. To examine this, I run four original surveys and study two broad research questions: (1) Does this social desirability exist?; and (2) Can it influence partisans’ expressed affective polarization? I find that affective polarization among partisans is indeed socially desirable and that, largely motivated by self-presentation desires, this social desirability can shape partisans’ expressed affective polarization. However, my results also suggest that affective polarization responses are rather ingrained in partisans, and that while partisans are aware of this social desirability and its effect on their behavior, small changes in survey context do not necessarily produce large changes in affective polarization responses. Overall, the results offer necessary nuance to our understanding of affective polarization, implying that social desirability—which can be shifted by contexts—can alter how affectively polarized people act.

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14 of 14 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • The effect of perceived polarization on affective polarization may play out through the framework of social norms.

    “we argue that the effect of perceived polarization on affective polarization may play out through the framework of social norms (Connors, 2023;Lane et al., 2024).”

    From ¿Demasiado lejos? Cómo la polarización mal percibida alimenta la polarización afectiva en España (2025) · cites this paper as Connors, 2023

  • Many expressions of affective polarization-such as partisan discrimination-have a social component.

    “This is the case because many expressions of affective polarization-such as partisan discrimination-have a social component (Connors, 2023).”

    From Measuring affective polarization: Matching concepts to measures (2026) · cites this paper as Connors, 2023

  • Connors (2023) shows that, compared with Republicans, Democrats seem more sensitive to social pressure in their expression of affective polarization.

    “Connors (2023) shows that, compared with Republicans, Democrats seem more sensitive to social pressure in their expression of affective polarization, possibly suggesting acute asymmetries in the social domain.”

    From Measuring affective polarization: Matching concepts to measures (2026) · cites this paper as Connors (2023)

  • Individuals alter their partisan behaviors depending on whether fellow partisans are present.

    “They additionally seem to alter their partisan behaviors depending on whether fellow partisans are present (Connors, 2023).”

    From Measuring affective polarization: Matching concepts to measures (2026) · cites this paper as Connors, 2023

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Authors
Connors, E. C.
Affiliations
University of South Carolina (US)
Corresponding author
Connors, Elizabeth C
ORCID
Connors, Elizabeth C
Venue
Public Opinion Quarterly
Publisher
Oxford University Press (OUP)
Published
2023-12-01
Volume
87
Issue
4
Pages
911-934
ISSN
  • 0033-362X (ISSN-L)
  • 1537-5331
DOI
10.1093/poq/nfad053
OpenAlex
W4389672370
Cited by
22
References
14
Citations by year
2026: 10 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 3 · 2022: 1
FWCI
20.65
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
academic.oup.com/pages/standard-publication-reuse-rights (vor)
Locations
Public Opinion Quarterly (publishedVersion)
Funders
Time-Sharing Experiments for the Social Sciences (1226)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Political Science and International Relations › Electoral Systems and Political Participation
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Social and Intergroup Psychology
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Media Influence and Politics
Keywords
affective polarization, social desirability, self-presentation, partisanship, partisan attitudes, political attitudes

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