The Brexit referendum, the defining political event in the UK’s recent history, has created deep divisions and emotional hostility between those who support leaving the EU (Leavers) and those who support remaining in the EU (Remainers). In a polarized political world, people often find it difficult to engage with the “other side,” leading to stereotypes and sometimes outright hostility. But could something as simple as a simple meditation technique help bridge this gap? A recent study entitled “Bridging the (Brexit) Gap: The Effects of a Brief Friendship Meditation on Emotional Polarization” suggests that it might help.
The study, conducted by a team of researchers from different institutions, including the University of Oxford and the University of Wisconsin-Madison, aimed to explore whether a short friendship meditation could reduce affective polarization in British adults (a term describing the degree of hostility an individual feels towards people who belong to opposing political groups). Previous studies have shown that such meditation has been effective in the US, reducing polarization between Democrats and Republicans. But could it have a similar positive effect in the context of a contentious Brexit?
To provide some context, emotional polarization is not just a UK phenomenon, it is a global issue. Research shows that emotional polarization leads to greater social divisions, less trust, and even affects personal relationships and business transactions. In the United States, rising emotional polarization reflects political deadlock and increased societal stress. Finding ways to reduce these emotions is therefore crucial to fostering a more cohesive society.
The researchers employed a post-test only randomized controlled trial design with 922 participants who identified as Leave or Remain supporters. Participants were randomly assigned to either a brief friendship meditation or an attention control condition. Findings showed that participants in the friendship meditation condition had slightly lower levels of emotional polarization compared to participants in the control group. This suggests that even a brief intervention may have a positive impact on reducing political hostility.
In friendship meditation, people typically focus their attention on generating feelings of goodwill and kindness toward oneself and others, including people with whom they disagree politically. This approach differs from other forms of meditation, such as mindfulness, which typically emphasize non-judgmental awareness of the present moment.
The meditation used in the study was very short, just 10 minutes, but it produced big results. Lead researcher Otto Simonson points out, “Our results show that a short session of friendship-building meditation can reduce emotional polarization by increasing perceptions of commonality with political outgroups.” In other words, participants began to see more similarities than differences with their political opponents.
Before delving deeper into the methods and results, it is important to understand why meditation has an effect on political emotions. Meditation practices, especially those focused on compassion and empathy, have been linked to increased emotional control and reduced implicit bias. These mental trainings can help individuals manage their emotional responses to conflict and reduce negative associations with different social groups.
Meditation’s historical roots go back centuries, and the practice is rooted in various religious and philosophical traditions. In recent years, meditation has attracted growing scientific interest for its potential benefits for mental health, physical wellness, and now social harmony. Meditation apps and wellness programs have popularized meditation, making it more accessible to the general public.
In this study, the friendship meditation required participants to visualize a series of people, starting with a loved one and gradually extending kindness to themselves, neutral people, difficult people, and finally to all living beings. This structured approach made the practice comprehensive yet brief enough to be carried out in a limited amount of time.
Participant selection was carefully planned to ensure a representative sample of the UK electorate. Survey surveys and screening questions ascertained participants’ political affiliations to ensure a balanced representation of both Leave and Remain voters. Data collection took place online, utilising digital platforms to reach a wide range of demographics.
In analyzing the data, statistical methods were used to compare the levels of emotional polarization between the two groups. The researchers found that the friendship meditation group experienced a statistically significant decrease in emotional polarization compared to the control group. Specifically, scores indicated an increase in perceptions of commonality with political out-groups, which mediated the decrease in polarization (Figure 1 shows the mediation analysis).
Further analyzing these findings, the researchers noted that perceptions of commonality increased more in the meditation group (M = 3.78, SD = 1.71) than in the control group (M = 3.39, SD = 1.62). Importantly, no one in this study reported extreme scores indicating that outliers were skewing the data, lending robustness to the results.
However, the study is not without limitations. As the authors acknowledge, relying on self-reported data may introduce potential biases, such as participants altering their responses to match perceived expectations. Moreover, due to the short-term nature of the study, the long-term effects of meditation affinity on emotional polarization are not yet known.
Despite these limitations, the findings are promising. Audio-guided friend-making practices appear to be a highly scalable means of reducing emotional polarization. The simplicity and accessibility of meditation make it an attractive intervention in politically divided societies. Imagine a future in which individuals can rely on short meditations not only for personal peace but as a tool to promote political harmony.
There are plenty of directions for future research. One avenue could be to explore whether repeated use of friendship-building meditations amplifies the observed effects. Researchers might also study the impact of such meditation practices on other forms of polarization, such as social or ethnic divisions. Incorporating behavioral measures and self-reports could provide a more comprehensive understanding of the meditations’ effects.
Interestingly, the study also leaves room for integrating technological advances such as virtual reality to enhance the experience of meditative practice. Imagine putting on a VR headset and entering a world where you virtually interact with avatars representing different perspectives, following meditative principles. This could potentially provide an immersive way to foster empathy and reduce polarization.
As society struggles with growing division, applying ancient practices like “Love-kindness meditation” in modern times can help build bridges to unity. The political climate may still be contentious, but the ability to find common ground and reduce hostility is essential. The next time political frustrations bubble up, a few minutes of Love-kindness meditation could make all the difference.
In conclusion, this study highlights the potential for meditation to defuse political hostility. Although the initial findings are modest, they pave the way for large-scale implementation and highlight the value of incorporating meditation practices into efforts to foster social cohesion. As the fields of psychology and political science continue to explore these intersections, more tools may be discovered for healing divided communities.
