Date of Award:

8-2024

Document Type:

Thesis

Degree Name:

Master of Arts (MA)

Department:

Political Science

Committee Chair(s)

Damon Cann

Committee

Damon Cann

Committee

Derrik Tollefson

Committee

Joshua Ryan

Abstract

In today's politically divided landscape, conversations across political lines can often provoke intense feelings of anger and anxiety, making productive dialogue difficult. This polarization not only dampens the quality of public discourse but also affects individual emotional well-being and the broader societal cohesion. This study explores a novel approach to alleviating the negative emotional effects caused by political polarization, using Mind-Body Bridging (MBB) techniques. It specifically targets emotional regulation- how we control and manage our feelings- during political discussions, without attempting to change participants' political beliefs. The study involved participants from Utah State University setting who engaged in MBB training. These participants were then observed for before and after changes in their emotional regulation and confidence during political conversations. The results suggest that while MBB practices helped some individuals manage their emotional responses more effectively, the overall impact on increasing confidence in political discussions was not definitive. The study suggests that more extensive application and a larger participant pool could provide clearer insights into the effectiveness of MBB in political contexts. The study highlights an innovative approach to one of the most pressing matters in contemporary politics- how to maintain healthy, productive political discussions in an era of high emotional stakes and polarization.

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Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License
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