The Sociology and Social Anthropology Seminar Series presents: Stephan Dochow-Sondershaus

Family Origins of Affective Polarization

Stephan Dochow-Sondershaus, Postdoc at the Department of Sociology, University of Copenhagen

This seminar will explore the growing animosity towards political outgroups and its impact on democracy. While much of the research has focused on the influence of political leaders and the media, our guest speaker will present a fresh perspective that highlights the role of family socialisation.

Using data from a unique survey conducted in Denmark, the seminar will reveal how siblings’ views on political parties and their supporters are shaped by their shared family environment. The findings show a surprising level of similarity between siblings, suggesting that family life plays a significant role in shaping political opinions. Additionally, the research indicates that siblings are influenced by factors beyond just their parents’ views.

The Seminar Series

The Sociology and Social Anthropology Seminar Series (Allmänna seminariet) invites international and national researchers to present and discuss on-going research. Each presenter talks for about an hour, followed by about an hour's discussion.

Find more research seminars in this series at soc.lu.se/en/research.

All are welcome including students!