Unraveling Group Polarization Encouraging Self-Reflection about Our Divided Reality

As our society becomes increasingly entrenched in opposing worldviews, to an extent prejudices run rampant and people get hurt, it’s worth exploring underlying mechanisms fueling group polarization. Social media plays a significant role, exacerbating natural psychological processes of group polarization. The presentation begins with attendees experiencing a simplified hands-on demonstration. I share two dramatizations making real persuasive arguments and social comparison accounts - the two well-established mechanisms driving group polarization. We continue with a summary of the psychology of group polarization and what makes designing these demonstrations so challenging.