961 - MORAL PERSPECTIVE-TAKING CAN REDUCE POLARIZATION AROUND CLIMATE POLICY

Session: D04S014 - Communication & Influence 1
AUTHORS:
Hurst Kristin (Southern Illinois University ~ Carbondale ~ United States of America) , Hurst Zachary (Southern Illinois University ~ Carbondale ~ United States of America)
Abstract text:
Polarization is a barrier to the large-scale collective action urgently needed to address the climate crisis. Moral perspective-taking (MPT) combines counter-attitudinal argument generation with moral framing as a strategy for reducing polarization. Across four online studies, we experimentally tested the efficacy of MPT for depolarization around divisive climate-related topics (transition from fossil fuels, fracking bans). We found consistent evidence that MPT can help moderate views on a divisive environmental topic, thus helping to decrease polarization. All four studies found significant effects of MPT on policy support. Further, Studies 1 and 2 found that the intervention increased empathy for people with opposing views and Studies 3 and 4 found it decreased resistance to opinion change and influenced willingness to take action on the issue. Our findings suggest that MPT can be used as a flexible tool to reduce polarization that is scalable and adaptable across multiple contexts.