Culture wars, perception gap and affective polarization: an approach from the Spanish case

Previous research has shown the existence of strong relationships between affective polarization and culture wars, but it is unknown to what extent this emotional division is, in fact, a ‘false polarization’ generated from second-order beliefs those identity issues that categorize define group membership. Using data ‘First National Survey Political Polarization’ Spain, an operationalization concept ‘perception gap’ proposed individual measurement through formula adapts coefficient Average Deviation (Dx̄), defined as arithmetic mean absolute values deviations mean. This seeks describe Spain around two relevant wars discursive articulation ideological blocs: gender violence national symbols. In same way, relationship partisan affiliation voters levels perceptive gap analyzed. regard, that, matters are claimed symbolic property bloc, supporters bloc have higher level gap’, they tend exaggerate their differences with outgroup distorting real positions adversaries. When thematic battle redirects position moral superiority becomes key issue for intergroup differentiation, homogeneity its members more accentuated greater perceptual deviation bias also produced.