Democracy Under Pressure – Contributions from Political Psychology

The 2025 Political Psychology Section focuses on the evolving psychological undercurrents shaping political preferences, decision-making and behavior in response to pressing global and domestic challenges to democracy. Sponsored by the Political Psychology Standing Group for the eighteenth year, this section brings together scholars across political science, psychology, sociology, international relations, and political communication from Europe and around the world, all dedicated to understanding the psychological mechanisms behind political decision-making and action. In the 2025 program, we turn our attention to the intensifying threats to democratic stability: the rise of grievance politics across Europe, the ongoing geopolitical ramifications of conflicts like the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the persistent waves of disinformation, economic inequalities, and the electoral gains of populist parties and movements that exploit societal divisions and fuel polarization and incivility. This section invites researchers to investigate the psychological roots, processes, and outcomes of contemporary crises, including the emotional and cognitive dimensions of political grievances, the psychology behind shifting political identities, and the dynamics of nationalism and exclusionary politics. We also welcome research that addresses the challenges of extremism, global migration and displacement, as well as the risks and potential of international cooperation amidst rising tensions. The section seeks to host 9 panels with theoretically grounded, empirical research papers from established and early-career scholars. These papers will engage with the political-psychological forces driving today’s most pressing political challenges and will make significant contributions to the political psychology field in Europe and beyond. Proposed Section Panels: 1 Heat in Unstable Times: Political Psychology of Grievances and Emotionality 2. Truth Under Siege: Political Psychology of Disinformation and Misinformation 3. Populist Power Plays: Political Psychology of Leadership in Polarized Democracies 4. Divided Worlds: Political Psychology of Polarization and Incivility. 5. With Us or Against Us: Political Psychology of Group Identity, Solidarity, and Hatred 6. Politics in the Extremes: Political Psychology of Extremism and Radicalization 7. Who Deserves A Helping Hand: Political Psychology of Protection, Deservedness, and Care 8: Conflict Zones: Political Psychology of War, Trauma, and Resilience 9: Global Challenges to Democracy: Political Psychology of International Relations The section has the endorsement of the Political Psychology Standing Group. Section Chair: Tereza Capelos, University of Southampton, t.capelos@soton.ac.uk Section Co-Chair: Stavroula Chrona, University of Sussex, s.chrona@sussex.ac.uk Section Co-Chair: Donatella Bonansinga, University of Southampton d.bonansinga@soton.ac.uk