“Polish People Are Starting to Hate Polish People”—Uncovering Emergent Patterns of Electoral Hostility in Post-Communist Europe
Like many societies, Poland seems to be increasingly split by the negative feelings many of its citizens feel towards one another because of the ways in which they vote. This phenomenon is known as electoral hostility. This paper sheds light on what it entails in political and psychological terms. A...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-11-01
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| Series: | Societies |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4698/12/6/176 |
| _version_ | 1797455277176389632 |
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| author | Anne-Sophie Neyra |
| author_facet | Anne-Sophie Neyra |
| author_sort | Anne-Sophie Neyra |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Like many societies, Poland seems to be increasingly split by the negative feelings many of its citizens feel towards one another because of the ways in which they vote. This phenomenon is known as electoral hostility. This paper sheds light on what it entails in political and psychological terms. A unique feature of this research is its methodological approach, combining family focus groups and individual interviews of up to 70 participants. This enables us to uncover critical insights into the perceptions and experiences of first-time voters and their families. It informs us of Poland’s fractious and emotional political atmosphere, but also on the way in which electoral hostility shapes lives in Poland. The findings highlight the importance of mirror perceptions (the perception that others’ hatred justifies our own) in shaping electoral hostility as an emotional sequence which makes many voters progressively see their emotions towards opposite voters deteriorate from misunderstanding to frustration, anger, disgust, and ultimately hatred. Finally, the analysis foregrounds the ways in which Polish voters adapt their behavior in accordance with their own preconceived notions of hostility. These preconceptions can manifest themselves via three possible routes: (1) avoidance, (2) aggression, and (3) a sense of doom, deterioration, and hopelessness. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T15:52:05Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f05817709bf845139e986212ccf64257 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-4698 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T15:52:05Z |
| publishDate | 2022-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Societies |
| spelling | doaj.art-f05817709bf845139e986212ccf642572023-11-24T18:01:49ZengMDPI AGSocieties2075-46982022-11-0112617610.3390/soc12060176“Polish People Are Starting to Hate Polish People”—Uncovering Emergent Patterns of Electoral Hostility in Post-Communist EuropeAnne-Sophie Neyra0Electoral Psychology Observatory (EPO), London WC2A 3PH, UKLike many societies, Poland seems to be increasingly split by the negative feelings many of its citizens feel towards one another because of the ways in which they vote. This phenomenon is known as electoral hostility. This paper sheds light on what it entails in political and psychological terms. A unique feature of this research is its methodological approach, combining family focus groups and individual interviews of up to 70 participants. This enables us to uncover critical insights into the perceptions and experiences of first-time voters and their families. It informs us of Poland’s fractious and emotional political atmosphere, but also on the way in which electoral hostility shapes lives in Poland. The findings highlight the importance of mirror perceptions (the perception that others’ hatred justifies our own) in shaping electoral hostility as an emotional sequence which makes many voters progressively see their emotions towards opposite voters deteriorate from misunderstanding to frustration, anger, disgust, and ultimately hatred. Finally, the analysis foregrounds the ways in which Polish voters adapt their behavior in accordance with their own preconceived notions of hostility. These preconceptions can manifest themselves via three possible routes: (1) avoidance, (2) aggression, and (3) a sense of doom, deterioration, and hopelessness.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4698/12/6/176Polandelectoral psychologyelectoral hostilityelectionspolarizationbehavior |
| spellingShingle | Anne-Sophie Neyra “Polish People Are Starting to Hate Polish People”—Uncovering Emergent Patterns of Electoral Hostility in Post-Communist Europe Societies Poland electoral psychology electoral hostility elections polarization behavior |
| title | “Polish People Are Starting to Hate Polish People”—Uncovering Emergent Patterns of Electoral Hostility in Post-Communist Europe |
| title_full | “Polish People Are Starting to Hate Polish People”—Uncovering Emergent Patterns of Electoral Hostility in Post-Communist Europe |
| title_fullStr | “Polish People Are Starting to Hate Polish People”—Uncovering Emergent Patterns of Electoral Hostility in Post-Communist Europe |
| title_full_unstemmed | “Polish People Are Starting to Hate Polish People”—Uncovering Emergent Patterns of Electoral Hostility in Post-Communist Europe |
| title_short | “Polish People Are Starting to Hate Polish People”—Uncovering Emergent Patterns of Electoral Hostility in Post-Communist Europe |
| title_sort | polish people are starting to hate polish people uncovering emergent patterns of electoral hostility in post communist europe |
| topic | Poland electoral psychology electoral hostility elections polarization behavior |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4698/12/6/176 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT annesophieneyra polishpeoplearestartingtohatepolishpeopleuncoveringemergentpatternsofelectoralhostilityinpostcommunisteurope |