Democracy Interventions with Prof. Robb Willer

What are the psychological forces driving that partisan animosity?

What’s causing Americans to vote for anti-democracy candidates? 

Are there any interventions that might actually work to turn down the heat and save our democracy? 

Robb Willer, professor of sociology, psychology, and organizational behavior at Stanford University talks with Ron Steslow about Stanford’s Strengthening Democracy Challenge, reducing partisan animosity and support for anti-democracy candidates .

(01:31) Robbs background

(02:46) The growth of polarization and partisan animosity 

(15:08) The Strengthening Democracy Challenge

(22:40) Negative partisanship and support for undemocratic candidates

(29:46) How cues from leaders can reduce support for anti-democracy candidates

(32:17) Working together and respectfully discussing differences reduces partisan animosity 

(37:47) Misperceptions about how how you’re viewed by members of another party fuels animosity 

(46:47) Is there hope for overcoming animosity and acceptance of undemocratic candidates? 

(53:16) How to implement these ideas

(59:23) The role of emotions in decision making

You should check out the interventions we discussed: 

Elite Cues: https://bit.ly/3TEeS6Z

Positive Contact (Heineken Ad): https://bit.ly/3N74PEM

Misperceptions: https://bit.ly/3W4iMaN

Fear of Democratic Collapse: https://bit.ly/3W4awHO

Follow Robb and Ron on Twitter:

https://twitter.com/RobbWiller

https://twitter.com/RonSteslow

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