Enhancing National Identity Reduces Affective Polarization and Increases Political Tolerance

Abstract: While knowledge about the consequences of affective polarization is robust, less is known about how to reverse this process, and the current paper aims to provide such an evidence-based explanation. We hypothesized that referring to the positive aspects of the common national identity may reduce affective polarization and increase political tolerance. We have conducted one cross-sectional ( N = 799) and one experimental ( N = 827) studies. The results revealed that only authentic, but not narcissistic, national identity was related to desirable outcomes (i.e., lower affective polarization and higher political tolerance). Furthermore, experimentally induced authentic national identity increased political tolerance and decreased affective polarization. We provide a framework on how to address affective polarization and political tolerance between political adversaries.