Political difference and polarization in the family: The role of (non)accommodating communication for navigating identity differences

Abstract

This study joins the relatively modest literature examining the effects of political disagreement in the family. We consider the effects of communication accommodation on shared family identity in the context political disagreement. To do this, we utilize survey responses from a quota-stratified sample of participants in an online panel ( N = 833) taken immediately after the contentious 2016 presidential election. We find that more disagreement and more affective polarization are associated with less communication accommodation and that shared family identity suffers as a result. Furthermore, our findings reveal that respecting divergent values is the most influential communication accommodation strategy and is also among the most adversely affected by political differences in the family. We conclude that political disagreement in the family reduces the likelihood of communication that is respectful of differences in political values, but that this accommodation strategy is crucial to reduce the deleterious consequences that political differences can have on family relationships.

The legitimizing roles of respectful treatment and direct democracy in collective decision‐making: A school‐based study

“…If an analogy to country-level political decision-making is used, our findings suggest that people's willingness to accept political decisions is influenced by whether they feel respected by their fellow citizens from the opposite opinion group. This is in line with recent research in the area of political polarization showing that affective polarization in society is reduced by respectful disagreement rather than by a policy compromise (Huddy & Yair, 2020) and that family communication respectful of divergent values is crucial in handling political differences within a family (Warner et al, 2020). Future research could elaborate on the sources of perceived respect.…”

“This Is Not the Hill to Die on. Even if We Literally Could Die on This Hill”: Examining Communication Ecologies of Uncertainty and Family Communication About COVID-19

“…Individuals should be mindful of the relational impact of different preferences for the quantity or quality of media consumption. Political differences tend to generate barriers to relational solidarity, yet the negative effect of political differences on relationships can be mitigated through accommodative communication ( Warner et al, in press ). Accommodative communication involves topic selection, communicating respect about differing opinions, limiting self-disclosure on contentious topics, and expressing tolerance for others’ beliefs.…”

The Influence of Risk, Location, and Relationship on Refusing an Event Invitation During the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…For example, Furman and Buhrmester (1992) found friendships and romantic relationships were more egalitarian than parent-child relationships, and research has shown when someone has less power they are more likely to experience psychological aggression from their relational partner (Dunbar and Johnson, 2015). Additionally, Warner et al (2020) found when people disagree with their family members, they are less likely to engage in respectful communication when discussing those differences. Therefore, people might expect worse relationship outcomes when declining an event from a family member than a friend or romantic partner.…”