Marriage Counseling Techniques Could Help Heal Political Divides: New Study

A recent Notre Dame-led study reveals that marriage counseling-inspired interventions can reduce political polarization, fostering greater understanding and unity among Democrats and Republicans.

Research indicates that growing polarization undermines democracy by encouraging citizens to value partisan allegiances over democratic principles. With the United States facing profound political divides, the necessity for innovative solutions to bridge the gap is more critical than ever.

A study published in Political Behavior and co-authored by Laura Gamboa, an assistant professor of democracy and global affairs at the Keough School of Global Affairs at the University of Notre Dame, suggests that marriage counseling techniques might offer an unexpected solution.

“Polarization threatens democracy, and finding ways to reduce it is vital,” Gamboa said in a news release. “This study uses a unique approach to understand why a proven depolarizing intervention works. With depolarizing efforts multiplying across the U.S., understanding not just if they work, but how and why, is more important than ever.”

The study focused on “reciprocal group reflection,” an intervention derived from couples therapy. This method was tested in workshops with bipartisan groups of undergraduate students from four university campuses.

The researchers collaborated with Braver Angels, a non-governmental organization known for its “red/blue” workshops that adapt marriage counseling strategies to address political polarization.

During the workshops, the participants first interacted mainly with co-partisans, reflecting on their own group’s beliefs and attitudes. When groups from opposing sides met, the aim was not to persuade or find common ground on specific issues, but rather to foster understanding and empathy for the other side’s motivations and experiences.

The findings showed that the workshops reduced both explicit and implicit signs of partisan division among Democrats and Republicans.

Moreover, the participants were more inclined to support depolarization initiatives, such as contributing to programs promoting constructive political discussions among young Americans. Although the immediate reduction in division somewhat diminished over time, the participants’ commitment to depolarizing efforts remained robust for at least six months.

“Unlike similar interventions, these workshops combine strategies proven to reduce political divisions, like sharing information about the beliefs and policies of people from the other side with activities designed to build empathy and understanding, based on ideas from social psychology,” Gamboa added.

These insights are instrumental as they demonstrate the potential of combining informational and emotional elements in depolarization efforts. By fostering a better understanding and enhancing communication between opposing groups, the groundwork for a more cohesive and healthier democracy is established.