Seeing “Us” and “Them”: How Political Symbols Polarize Through Anger, Anxiety, and Enthusiasm

This study investigated how political symbols influence affective polarization through emotions. Integrating research on visual communication, social identity theory, and the affective contagion hypothesis, we theorized that partisan symbols compared to national symbols would exacerbate affective polarization—and that anger, anxiety, and enthusiasm mediate this process. An experiment (N = 1,013) found the expected emotional impact and mediation effects—partisan symbols compared to national symbols indirectly influenced affective polarization through these emotions. Theoretical implications are discussed in the context of mounting concerns over rising polarization.