“Polish People Are Starting to Hate Polish People”—Uncovering Emergent Patterns of Electoral Hostility in Post-Communist Europe

Like many societies, Poland seems to be increasingly split by the negative feelings of its citizens feel towards one another because ways in which they vote. This phenomenon is known as electoral hostility. paper sheds light on what it entails political and psychological terms. A unique feature this research methodological approach, combining family focus groups individual interviews up 70 participants. enables us uncover critical insights into perceptions experiences first-time voters their families. It informs Poland’s fractious emotional atmosphere, but also way hostility shapes lives Poland. The findings highlight importance mirror (the perception that others’ hatred justifies our own) shaping an sequence makes progressively see emotions opposite deteriorate from misunderstanding frustration, anger, disgust, ultimately hatred. Finally, analysis foregrounds Polish adapt behavior accordance with own preconceived notions These preconceptions can manifest themselves via three possible routes: (1) avoidance, (2) aggression, (3) a sense doom, deterioration, hopelessness.