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Election results can decrease intergroup threat and through that positively affect intergroup relations

delete2024-02-25
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OA
AI
J
Jenny Roth *
M
Miriam Steinmann
J
Jack Loughnane
P
Paula Devine
O
Orla T. Muldoon
C
Catriona Shelly
W
Wijnand A. P. van Tilburg
M
Melanie C. Steffens
C
Claire Campbell
DOI:10.1111/pops.12960delete
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Abstract

Abstract

En 中文
Previous research has established that intergroup threat is pivotal to intergroup relations in divided societies. We used the Northern Ireland Assembly Elections in 2022 as a unique chance to investigate how elections can affect feelings of threat and intergroup relations between communities with a history of violent intergroup conflict. We argued that because of their conflicting goals, if Sinn Fein (i.e., a Republican party that promotes a united Ireland) gains more votes than the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP, i.e., a party promoting Northern Ireland's union with the United Kingdom), it would threaten DUP supporters and vice versa. We assessed whether participants supported Sinn Fein or DUP relatively to each other, intergroup threat, and intergroup bias before and after the elections (N=285). Following an election outcome where Sinn Fein gained more votes than DUP, Sinn Fein supporters showed decreased feelings of threat which in turn decreased their intergroup bias. DUP supporters, the party that received fewer votes, showed no changes in their feelings of threat or intergroup bias. This research highlights how electoral results affect intergroup relations in postconflict societies.
Keywords:
electoral outcome
decision
intergroup bias
intergroup conflict
Northern Ireland assembly elections
social identity
intergroup threat

Journal

Political Psychology cover
Political Psychology
IF:
3.5
Papers:
2.4K
Citations:
7.6K

Organization

U
Ulster University
Scholars:
5.7K
Papers: 5.9K
Citations: 25
U
University of Limerick
Scholars:
7.4K
Papers: 6.6K
Citations: 7.4K
Q
Queen's University Belfast
Scholars:
1.6W
Papers: 1.7W
Citations: 2.5W
U
University of Essex
Scholars:
4.0K
Papers: 4.8K
Citations: 5
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