University of Utah Researchers and Others Assert Possibility of Reducing Political Tensions

SALT⁤ LAKE CITY — Do you recall the 2020 gubernatorial race in Utah?

Amid a heated ⁢presidential campaign, Spencer‍ Cox, the Republican gubernatorial candidate,‍ and his Democratic rival, Chris Peterson,⁤ joined forces‌ in a 30-second advertisement to express their shared commitment to democracy and mutual respect.

“We can disagree without hating each⁢ other,” Cox declared in ⁤the 2020 ad.

“Win⁤ or lose,” Peterson‌ chimed in, “in Utah, we work together.”

The Cox-Peterson ad⁤ struck a chord not only in Utah but also across‌ the ‌nation, showing that⁣ candidates with differing views can still pledge to uphold democratic processes ‌and treat each other with civility.

Recent⁣ research indicates that the #StandUnited ad featuring Cox⁢ and Peterson has the power to soften political hostility.

The #StandUnited ad from Utah is featured in a ⁢recent Stanford University study titled ​the Strengthening Democracy Challenge.

Published in Science magazine, the study provides insights and practical advice for voters, political leaders, tech platforms, and others to help ⁤reduce the intensity of partisan divisions while reinforcing the nation’s commitment to democracy.

The contributions of two University of Utah professors, Ben Lyons and Samantha Moore-Berg, are prominently featured in the Stanford study.

The research was initiated after Stanford’s Polarization and ​Social Change ⁢Lab invited anyone — academics, ⁤psychologists, communication scholars, political scientists, or the general ⁢public — to submit‌ ideas‌ for ‍political “polarization intervention” for a “megastudy.”

Over 250 examples ​of political⁢ polarization interventions were submitted. From this‍ vast ‌pool, researchers identified 25 interventions “that would be the‍ most effective at⁢ actually reducing toxic polarization,” Moore-Berg told the Deseret ​News.

The research ‌team from the⁣ Polarization and Social Change‍ Lab, ​along with scholars from ⁤several renowned universities, tested these 25 “treatments” on a diverse sample⁣ of over 32,000 Americans.

Among the 25 polarization interventions was Utah’s #StandUnited ad and a 4-minute video produced by researchers in collaboration with the Boston-based nonprofit Beyond Conflict that exposes the misconceptions that people with⁤ opposing political beliefs have about each other.

The University of Utah’s Lyons conducted the #StandUnited⁣ research, while his⁣ colleague, Moore-Berg, played a crucial role in creating the Beyond⁣ Conflict video.

Both ‌the #StandUnited ad research and the Beyond Conflict video were among the three interventions found to be ‌effective in mitigating three divisive elements prevalent in today’s American political ​culture: partisan animosity, anti-democratic⁣ attitudes, and support for political violence.

Lyons explained that the Cox/Peterson ad‌ resonated with viewers in Utah and beyond because it featured two prominent figures⁣ from opposing political parties demonstrating⁤ positive behavior.

“They’re giving us‍ an example ​of cooperation and respect — and that’s something⁣ we can incorporate into our own lives,” said Lyons. “That’s rare, so ‍I think it works⁢ because it stands out.”

In the Beyond Conflict video, participants first disclose their own political affiliations. Then they are asked what people in the ‌”other political party” would‍ say about them.

“Typically, they said, ‘Well,​ they say that we disagree on so much or​ they dehumanize us ‌so much,'” said Moore-Berg. “And then we present them with the actual data that shows that these misconceptions⁤ are actually ‍exaggerated.

“People are genuinely​ surprised by this … we are much‌ more similar than we thought we ⁢are,” Moore-Berg ⁣said.

By breaking down‍ these ​misconception barriers, she added, “We can finally⁣ start to listen to the other side and be⁣ willing to engage with the other side with less hostility. And we feel less apprehensive about who is on the other side.”

Today’s multifaceted media can also amplify extreme‌ political attitudes.

“The people who have the most extreme attitudes are⁤ the ones that often ⁤get the most press,” said Moore-Berg. “So when we’re only exposed ⁤to the extreme attitudes on‌ both sides, we are more likely to ​have misconceptions about those on the other side.”

The ⁣encouraging news? Such misconceptions can be corrected, according to the research.

“The goal is not to make everybody agree on everything — but it’s⁤ come to a point where we are unwilling to even be in the same room as somebody who disagrees with us,” said ‍Moore-Berg. “If we can correct these misconceptions to help‌ people be willing to interact‌ and collaborate with each other, then we’ve achieved ‌the goal of what we’re trying to do​ here.

“We’re trying to create a more peaceful society that doesn’t resort to extremes to make political⁣ points,” she said.

The interventions highlighted in the recent Stanford study offer several takeaways that seem particularly ⁤relevant during‍ another turbulent election period unfolding in real time, said Lyons.

First, always scrutinize ‍one’s own assumptions “about what members of the other party are ⁣like.”

Second, a person doesn’t ‌have⁤ to be a high-profile political candidate to model pro-democratic attitudes.

“Every one of us can model our own support for democratic norms. ⁣Maybe that can have a ripple effect down ⁣the​ line,” said Lyons.

And lastly, resist the urge to simply remain silent. That, ⁣too, can breed misconceptions.

“If you’re ⁣more willing to speak out on things you truly believe in, you can correct the public⁢ sphere. The public’s perceptions of levels of support might be more accurate over time,” he said.