Location
Hilton Waikoloa Village, Hawaii
Event Website
https://hicss.hawaii.edu/
Start Date
7-1-2025 12:00 AM
End Date
10-1-2025 12:00 AM
Description
Polarization is an urgent and complex problem in society, deserving a re-think of the manner in which solutions are sought. By engaging in a systematic review of relevant literature, this article endeavors to answer the question; How much of the polarization solutions research demonstrated a systems approach to understanding the issue? Affective polarization is specific to this inquiry and refers to the tendency of individuals with strong ideological, political or issue identification to strongly dislike, or even experience disgust for those who demonstrate an opposing point of view. To offer a different approach to solution seeking for the problem of polarization, we adopted an ecological approach, based on the work of Bronfenbrenner (1994). We reviewed 76 academic works and mapped the solutions offered according to the ecological model. We conclude by offering that a system-thinking approach to addressing polarization may offer a frame for deep and lasting social change.
Recommended Citation
Hodson, Jaigris; Owen, Joan; and Homer-Dixon, Thomas, "Mapping Solutions to Affective Polarization: An Ecological Review of the Literature" (2025). Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences 2025 (HICSS-58). 4.
https://aisel.aisnet.org/hicss-58/dsm/culture/4
Mapping Solutions to Affective Polarization: An Ecological Review of the Literature
Hilton Waikoloa Village, Hawaii
Polarization is an urgent and complex problem in society, deserving a re-think of the manner in which solutions are sought. By engaging in a systematic review of relevant literature, this article endeavors to answer the question; How much of the polarization solutions research demonstrated a systems approach to understanding the issue? Affective polarization is specific to this inquiry and refers to the tendency of individuals with strong ideological, political or issue identification to strongly dislike, or even experience disgust for those who demonstrate an opposing point of view. To offer a different approach to solution seeking for the problem of polarization, we adopted an ecological approach, based on the work of Bronfenbrenner (1994). We reviewed 76 academic works and mapped the solutions offered according to the ecological model. We conclude by offering that a system-thinking approach to addressing polarization may offer a frame for deep and lasting social change.
https://aisel.aisnet.org/hicss-58/dsm/culture/4