The Berlin Polarization Monitor constitutes a novel data infrastructure for the continuous examination of affective polarization dynamics across Germany. This innovative system is designed to conduct a large-scale panel study.

We take a multidimensional approach to studying and addressing affective polarization, with each research stream complementing the others. Through ongoing data collection and interdisciplinary analysis, we identify resources that help individuals and groups navigate affective polarization.

In our Interventions Lab, we position civil society as a key actor in mobilizing social cohesion to cope with the negative effects of affective polarization. By collaborating closely with civil society organizations and drawing on insights from our research, we develop effective intervention strategies.

In this Research Stream, we seek to advance our understanding of the non-verbal and emotional mechanisms that shape social interactions within and between politicized groups and influence whether such interactions reinforce or mitigate affective polarization.

The main aim of the “Individuals” Research Stream is to explore how individual differences shape the ways in which people are impacted by affective polarization and to identify strategies that individuals employ to cope with the negative consequences of affective polarization.