Everyday Extremism: Guidelines for developing democratic attunement

Speakers:

• Prof. Gordon Sammut, Centre for the Study & Practice of Conflict Resolution, UM
• Dr Rebekah Mifsud, Department of Cognitive Science, UM

Hosted by:

The Department of Cognitive Science, Faculty of Media & Knowledge Sciences, UM

Abstract:

Democratic jurisdictions offer citizens a range of democratic rights and freedoms that enable them to participate in processes of governance. These rights include the freedom to voice differing opinions and to protest what they perceive to be undue laws and policies. However, exercising these freedoms within a democracy can be challenging. At times such activity is viewed unfavourably by adversaries and can lead to hostility among the public. Moreover, it potentially sets the stage for escalating spirals of protest that could degenerate into unlawful activity.

In this seminar, we present findings from the OppAttune project which demonstrate how electoral activity triggers particular individuals into escalating behavioural sequences that push political activity to the extreme. We further show how politically minded individuals task politicians with fighting their political battles in their stead. We show how the escalation of political confrontation drives certain citizens away from politics in an effort to avoid hostility, which tendency is reversed during politically calm periods. We proceed to propose a number of guidelines for political engagement that help track political extremism in the public domain, limit opportunities for escalation and attune political adversaries in the process of contestation. We welcome feedback that will help prevent disagreement from degenerating into discord.

Speakers' Profiles:

GORDON SAMMUT is Professor of Social Psychology at the Department of Cognitive Science, University of Malta, and Director of the Centre for the Study & Practice of Conflict Resolution. His research interests concern intergroup and intercultural relations with a focus on reconciliatory strategies based on shared worldviews. He has published in various international journals and is former editor of Papers on Social Representations and associate editor of Peace and Conflict: Journal of Peace Psychology. His most recent book, Politics and the New Challenge of Migration: Bridging Cultural, Social and Political Divides, is published by Cambridge University Press.

DR REBEKAH MIFSUD is a lecturer of Cognitive Science at the University of Malta. Her research predominantly focuses on individual differences in cognitive functions, particularly those involved in decision-making and executive control. Her work explores how these differences shape the ways in which people construe the social world, make social judgements, and behave. Ultimately, she seeks to contribute to a deeper understanding of the diversity underlying real-world social judgements and behaviour, with the aim of bridging cognitive science insights with practical social applications.

Registration:

Admission is free, but kindly reserve a place by sending an email.

Programme: 

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