Pride or Prejudice: Affective Polarisation, Identification and the Maltese Partisan Media

Abstract

Presenter: Rosemarie Calleja, University of Malta Chair: Laura Jacobs Common identity groups are based on shared category membership, and such groups may arise out of a shared interest, such as partisan media (Hogg & Gaffney, 2018). Social identities are central to political beliefs (Greene, 2004). The Social Identity Theory (Tajfel & Turner, 1979) provides a theoretical basis for understanding how individuals identify with their partisan groups. Iyengar’s definition of affective polarisation - the tendency to hold positive feelings towards one’s in-group, while being negative about the out-group provides the background for this study. This research provides a comprehensive exploration of the “us” and “them” partisan identity, linked with the Maltese partisan media as a case study.