Scientists are developing new strategies to combat social division!

Scientists are developing new strategies to combat social division!

On June 23, 2025, a German-Israeli research team presented a novel psychological approach to counteract growing social divisions. The study, conducted by the University of Trier and the Open University of Israel, sheds light on affective polarization, particularly in the context of political disputes in the USA. The key developed by the researchers to defuse this divide lies in the morally positive portrayal of the political opponent, even if these portrayals are fictional. These findings could be used by both the media and political actors to promote social cohesion, such as uni-trier.de reported.

Prof. Dr. Eva Walther from the University of Trier underlines the ubiquity of political enemy images and warns of their effects on social cohesion. The researchers added that morally colored information measurably influences the perception of the people depicted. The sympathy values ​​for the political opponent increased significantly when the test subjects were presented with positive or neutral information. The study joins a growing body of academic work aimed at reducing political polarization.

Challenges caused by polarization

The study represents an important contribution to current social analysis, as affective polarization describes emotional rejection in socio-political issues. This form of polarization risks seriously endangering democracy and social cohesion. As the study by the Mercator Forum Migration and Democracy (MIDEM) shows, social divisions have increased in Germany and other European countries. The representative study is based on surveys of around 20,000 people in ten EU member states and captures the emotional dimensions of social conflict lines, such as forum-midem.de reported.

The increasing fragmentation of society is increasingly seen as a major challenge. Public debates are characterized by hardened fronts and irreconcilable positions. A Europe-wide comparative study identifies topics such as migration and climate change as particularly polarizing, while 68% of Germans perceive an increasing division in society. Political actors play a crucial role here by fomenting social conflicts through populist rhetoric and instrumentalizing fears, such as mnu-bb.de points out.

Practical approaches to de-escalation

To address the deepening divide, several approaches based on scientifically sound conflict research methods are proposed. The development of new digital dialogue formats as well as the strengthening of cultural education and local initiatives offer promising solutions. Pilot projects in Germany and Europe show that the combination of these approaches can sustainably improve social cohesion. Programs like “Culture Connects” in Berlin, which reached over 10,000 young people in 2024, have already seen success in reducing stereotypical thinking patterns.

Active citizen participation and dialogue with other beliefs are essential steps to overcome social polarization. As various studies show, regular participation in dialogue forums can significantly improve understanding among participants. The framework conditions for a constructive social debate are therefore in place, but it remains to be seen how politics and the media will implement these scientific findings in practice.