Study shows that divergent opinions need not necessarily lead to polarisation
We naturally feel close to people who are similar to us, who share our interests or partake in related activities, for instance. This natural feeling of closeness can be funnelled to reduce political differences and increase consensus on conflictual political topics. That is a discovery made by an international team of researchers led by Dr Stefano Balietti, a social scientist from Heidelberg University who uses computer-based methods to study human group behaviour. In an online study with participants from the United States the scientists investigated the circumstances under which people change their own attitude towards a certain topic. ...
