Peter Luca Versteegen
@versteegenluca.bsky.social
Postdoc at the University of Vienna. Researching polarization & democracy from a political psych perspective.
I do research and I run.
https://lucaversteegen.com
I do research and I run.
https://lucaversteegen.com
Our findings have implications for survey research. And we hope the review of affective states help polsci study affect.
Full paper here: doi.org/10.31234/osf...
For this paper, I am particularly thankful for the great input + support of so many! You made this project better & more fun!
8/8🧵
Full paper here: doi.org/10.31234/osf...
For this paper, I am particularly thankful for the great input + support of so many! You made this project better & more fun!
8/8🧵
September 17, 2025 at 3:11 PM
Our findings have implications for survey research. And we hope the review of affective states help polsci study affect.
Full paper here: doi.org/10.31234/osf...
For this paper, I am particularly thankful for the great input + support of so many! You made this project better & more fun!
8/8🧵
Full paper here: doi.org/10.31234/osf...
For this paper, I am particularly thankful for the great input + support of so many! You made this project better & more fun!
8/8🧵
Indeed, when inducing immediate affect in an experiment in the 🇺🇸, we find correlations as hypothesized for self-reported (i.e., relatively stable) mood, but null effects for induced short-term affect.
6/8🧵
6/8🧵
September 17, 2025 at 3:11 PM
Indeed, when inducing immediate affect in an experiment in the 🇺🇸, we find correlations as hypothesized for self-reported (i.e., relatively stable) mood, but null effects for induced short-term affect.
6/8🧵
6/8🧵
around lunch time does not shift democratic views systematically. This suggests that relatively durable moods (i.e., annual changes) may shape people’s democratic views, but changes in short-term affect don’t matter.
5/8🧵
5/8🧵
September 17, 2025 at 3:11 PM
around lunch time does not shift democratic views systematically. This suggests that relatively durable moods (i.e., annual changes) may shape people’s democratic views, but changes in short-term affect don’t matter.
5/8🧵
5/8🧵
Our first test uses 16 waves of 🇳🇱 panel data, testing effects of within-subject changes in mood on very broad measures of democratic views.
We find that within-subject increases in positive mood predict more satisfaction with and trust in democracy.
However, diurnal variation in affect
4/8🧵
We find that within-subject increases in positive mood predict more satisfaction with and trust in democracy.
However, diurnal variation in affect
4/8🧵
September 17, 2025 at 3:11 PM
Our first test uses 16 waves of 🇳🇱 panel data, testing effects of within-subject changes in mood on very broad measures of democratic views.
We find that within-subject increases in positive mood predict more satisfaction with and trust in democracy.
However, diurnal variation in affect
4/8🧵
We find that within-subject increases in positive mood predict more satisfaction with and trust in democracy.
However, diurnal variation in affect
4/8🧵
🚨New pre-print🚨
"Do citizens’ views of democracy and its actors vary with how they feel?”, @lilymasonphd.bsky.social and I ask in a new paper.
Why would they? While citizens widely endorse democracy in principle, temporary factors often shape their views. Also, work on “irrelevant events"
1/8🧵
"Do citizens’ views of democracy and its actors vary with how they feel?”, @lilymasonphd.bsky.social and I ask in a new paper.
Why would they? While citizens widely endorse democracy in principle, temporary factors often shape their views. Also, work on “irrelevant events"
1/8🧵
September 17, 2025 at 3:11 PM
🚨New pre-print🚨
"Do citizens’ views of democracy and its actors vary with how they feel?”, @lilymasonphd.bsky.social and I ask in a new paper.
Why would they? While citizens widely endorse democracy in principle, temporary factors often shape their views. Also, work on “irrelevant events"
1/8🧵
"Do citizens’ views of democracy and its actors vary with how they feel?”, @lilymasonphd.bsky.social and I ask in a new paper.
Why would they? While citizens widely endorse democracy in principle, temporary factors often shape their views. Also, work on “irrelevant events"
1/8🧵
Second, people thankfully don’t experience many negative emotions toward their in-party. And they report, perhaps surprisingly, many positive emotions toward them.
Third, people don’t feel many positive emotions toward out-party voters. But fear is relatively rare, too. ...
🧵5/8
Third, people don’t feel many positive emotions toward out-party voters. But fear is relatively rare, too. ...
🧵5/8
August 4, 2025 at 11:16 AM
Second, people thankfully don’t experience many negative emotions toward their in-party. And they report, perhaps surprisingly, many positive emotions toward them.
Third, people don’t feel many positive emotions toward out-party voters. But fear is relatively rare, too. ...
🧵5/8
Third, people don’t feel many positive emotions toward out-party voters. But fear is relatively rare, too. ...
🧵5/8
Our evidence first reminds that many people are NOT affectively polarized (in line with another pre-print of mine (doi.org/10.31234/osf...). That is, despite growing polarization, there remains a substantive share of people who remain unpolarized.
🧵4/8
🧵4/8
August 4, 2025 at 11:16 AM
Our evidence first reminds that many people are NOT affectively polarized (in line with another pre-print of mine (doi.org/10.31234/osf...). That is, despite growing polarization, there remains a substantive share of people who remain unpolarized.
🧵4/8
🧵4/8
🚨Pre-print alert🚨
Research shows citizens in many Western democracies are increasingly affectively polarized––they feel warm toward their own party but quite cold toward opposing parties.
But how does it feel to “feel warmly”?
@katharinalawall.bsky.social, @mtsakiris.bsky.social & I asked.
🧵1/8
Research shows citizens in many Western democracies are increasingly affectively polarized––they feel warm toward their own party but quite cold toward opposing parties.
But how does it feel to “feel warmly”?
@katharinalawall.bsky.social, @mtsakiris.bsky.social & I asked.
🧵1/8
August 4, 2025 at 11:16 AM
🚨Pre-print alert🚨
Research shows citizens in many Western democracies are increasingly affectively polarized––they feel warm toward their own party but quite cold toward opposing parties.
But how does it feel to “feel warmly”?
@katharinalawall.bsky.social, @mtsakiris.bsky.social & I asked.
🧵1/8
Research shows citizens in many Western democracies are increasingly affectively polarized––they feel warm toward their own party but quite cold toward opposing parties.
But how does it feel to “feel warmly”?
@katharinalawall.bsky.social, @mtsakiris.bsky.social & I asked.
🧵1/8
3. When citizens are asked to recall a situation of politics, what do they think of, how did that situation feel, and how did it change their engagement in politcs?
(w @dpltr22.bsky.social + @chriswratil.bsky.social)
SUN, 3:55 - 5:10, RB 209
Also, please send running routes for Prague! 🏁
(w @dpltr22.bsky.social + @chriswratil.bsky.social)
SUN, 3:55 - 5:10, RB 209
Also, please send running routes for Prague! 🏁
July 2, 2025 at 7:08 AM
3. When citizens are asked to recall a situation of politics, what do they think of, how did that situation feel, and how did it change their engagement in politcs?
(w @dpltr22.bsky.social + @chriswratil.bsky.social)
SUN, 3:55 - 5:10, RB 209
Also, please send running routes for Prague! 🏁
(w @dpltr22.bsky.social + @chriswratil.bsky.social)
SUN, 3:55 - 5:10, RB 209
Also, please send running routes for Prague! 🏁
2. As social beings, can voters actually differentiate between personal and societal motivations to vote? And why does it matter?
(w Greta Groß + @lilymasonphd.bsky.social)
SUN, 8:30 – 9:45, RB 212
(w Greta Groß + @lilymasonphd.bsky.social)
SUN, 8:30 – 9:45, RB 212
July 2, 2025 at 7:08 AM
2. As social beings, can voters actually differentiate between personal and societal motivations to vote? And why does it matter?
(w Greta Groß + @lilymasonphd.bsky.social)
SUN, 8:30 – 9:45, RB 212
(w Greta Groß + @lilymasonphd.bsky.social)
SUN, 8:30 – 9:45, RB 212
Still hot from #EPSA2025, about to leave for #ISPP2025!
Looking forward to meeting many new people for 🍦!
I’ll present 3 papers:
1. How does affectively polarization actually feel like? (w @katharinalawall.bsky.social + @mtsakiris.bsky.social).
FRI, 08.30-09.45, RB 107
@polpsyispp.bsky.social
Looking forward to meeting many new people for 🍦!
I’ll present 3 papers:
1. How does affectively polarization actually feel like? (w @katharinalawall.bsky.social + @mtsakiris.bsky.social).
FRI, 08.30-09.45, RB 107
@polpsyispp.bsky.social
July 2, 2025 at 7:08 AM
Still hot from #EPSA2025, about to leave for #ISPP2025!
Looking forward to meeting many new people for 🍦!
I’ll present 3 papers:
1. How does affectively polarization actually feel like? (w @katharinalawall.bsky.social + @mtsakiris.bsky.social).
FRI, 08.30-09.45, RB 107
@polpsyispp.bsky.social
Looking forward to meeting many new people for 🍦!
I’ll present 3 papers:
1. How does affectively polarization actually feel like? (w @katharinalawall.bsky.social + @mtsakiris.bsky.social).
FRI, 08.30-09.45, RB 107
@polpsyispp.bsky.social
THU, 3.00-4.40, in 0A.07: I’ll present work w @chriswratil.bsky.social and @dpltr22.bsky.social on citizens’ emotional and political reactions to their representation experiences.
Too many good people in this panel to list them all, see: coms.events/epsa2025/dat...
Email if you want to meet for🍦
Too many good people in this panel to list them all, see: coms.events/epsa2025/dat...
Email if you want to meet for🍦
June 24, 2025 at 2:16 PM
THU, 3.00-4.40, in 0A.07: I’ll present work w @chriswratil.bsky.social and @dpltr22.bsky.social on citizens’ emotional and political reactions to their representation experiences.
Too many good people in this panel to list them all, see: coms.events/epsa2025/dat...
Email if you want to meet for🍦
Too many good people in this panel to list them all, see: coms.events/epsa2025/dat...
Email if you want to meet for🍦
Recs for #EPSA2025 schedule:
THU, 1.10-2.50, in 0A.05: I’ll chair a panel on conceptual issues in affective polarization, feat. @luismremiro.bsky.social, @mascakir.bsky.social, Mickael Temporão, @fghjorth.bsky.social, plus present work w @katharinalawall.bsky.social + @mtsakiris.bsky.social
THU, 1.10-2.50, in 0A.05: I’ll chair a panel on conceptual issues in affective polarization, feat. @luismremiro.bsky.social, @mascakir.bsky.social, Mickael Temporão, @fghjorth.bsky.social, plus present work w @katharinalawall.bsky.social + @mtsakiris.bsky.social
June 24, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Recs for #EPSA2025 schedule:
THU, 1.10-2.50, in 0A.05: I’ll chair a panel on conceptual issues in affective polarization, feat. @luismremiro.bsky.social, @mascakir.bsky.social, Mickael Temporão, @fghjorth.bsky.social, plus present work w @katharinalawall.bsky.social + @mtsakiris.bsky.social
THU, 1.10-2.50, in 0A.05: I’ll chair a panel on conceptual issues in affective polarization, feat. @luismremiro.bsky.social, @mascakir.bsky.social, Mickael Temporão, @fghjorth.bsky.social, plus present work w @katharinalawall.bsky.social + @mtsakiris.bsky.social
Thus, we take an inductive approach to identify the combinations of inparty and outparty sympathy. We conduct cluster analyses on 3 nationally rep surveys in the US.
🔍We find 4 groups: Polarized Reps, Polarized Dems, and––crucially––TWO groups of unpolarized citizens:
one feels lukewarm
3/6🧵
🔍We find 4 groups: Polarized Reps, Polarized Dems, and––crucially––TWO groups of unpolarized citizens:
one feels lukewarm
3/6🧵
June 24, 2025 at 1:43 PM
Thus, we take an inductive approach to identify the combinations of inparty and outparty sympathy. We conduct cluster analyses on 3 nationally rep surveys in the US.
🔍We find 4 groups: Polarized Reps, Polarized Dems, and––crucially––TWO groups of unpolarized citizens:
one feels lukewarm
3/6🧵
🔍We find 4 groups: Polarized Reps, Polarized Dems, and––crucially––TWO groups of unpolarized citizens:
one feels lukewarm
3/6🧵
that affectively UNpolarized citizens have a shared view on democracy.
Despite growing AP in several democracies, however, there are many people who aren't polarized. We argue that the common operationalization of AP nicely differentiates high vs. low AP but treats everyone with low AP alike:
2/6🧵
Despite growing AP in several democracies, however, there are many people who aren't polarized. We argue that the common operationalization of AP nicely differentiates high vs. low AP but treats everyone with low AP alike:
2/6🧵
June 24, 2025 at 1:43 PM
that affectively UNpolarized citizens have a shared view on democracy.
Despite growing AP in several democracies, however, there are many people who aren't polarized. We argue that the common operationalization of AP nicely differentiates high vs. low AP but treats everyone with low AP alike:
2/6🧵
Despite growing AP in several democracies, however, there are many people who aren't polarized. We argue that the common operationalization of AP nicely differentiates high vs. low AP but treats everyone with low AP alike:
2/6🧵
🚨Preprint alert🚨
How does affective polarization change democracy? Lots of pubs study how AP affects trust, democratic norms, inter-partisan attitudes, and participation.
We (w/ @polpsychjoe.bsky.social, @lilymasonphd.bsky.social) examine a vital assumption this research seems to rely on:
1/6🧵
How does affective polarization change democracy? Lots of pubs study how AP affects trust, democratic norms, inter-partisan attitudes, and participation.
We (w/ @polpsychjoe.bsky.social, @lilymasonphd.bsky.social) examine a vital assumption this research seems to rely on:
1/6🧵
June 24, 2025 at 1:43 PM
🚨Preprint alert🚨
How does affective polarization change democracy? Lots of pubs study how AP affects trust, democratic norms, inter-partisan attitudes, and participation.
We (w/ @polpsychjoe.bsky.social, @lilymasonphd.bsky.social) examine a vital assumption this research seems to rely on:
1/6🧵
How does affective polarization change democracy? Lots of pubs study how AP affects trust, democratic norms, inter-partisan attitudes, and participation.
We (w/ @polpsychjoe.bsky.social, @lilymasonphd.bsky.social) examine a vital assumption this research seems to rely on:
1/6🧵
This is my final dissertation paper, and I thank maaany people for their support, inspiration, and ideas (see acknowledgments). I also thank our respondents. In one of our pilots, the most common response to “what do all Americans like” was CHICKEN.
One of the reasons why I love this job.
🧵8/9
One of the reasons why I love this job.
🧵8/9
May 12, 2025 at 7:07 AM
This is my final dissertation paper, and I thank maaany people for their support, inspiration, and ideas (see acknowledgments). I also thank our respondents. In one of our pilots, the most common response to “what do all Americans like” was CHICKEN.
One of the reasons why I love this job.
🧵8/9
One of the reasons why I love this job.
🧵8/9
🚨 “We just need to recognize that we’re all citizens of this country.” –– Politicians + citizens often stress a shared national identity when trying to bridge racial, partisan, or other group divides.
@stysyropoulos.bsky.social & I show why such “shared” identities are doomed to fail.
🧵1/9
@stysyropoulos.bsky.social & I show why such “shared” identities are doomed to fail.
🧵1/9
May 12, 2025 at 7:07 AM
🚨 “We just need to recognize that we’re all citizens of this country.” –– Politicians + citizens often stress a shared national identity when trying to bridge racial, partisan, or other group divides.
@stysyropoulos.bsky.social & I show why such “shared” identities are doomed to fail.
🧵1/9
@stysyropoulos.bsky.social & I show why such “shared” identities are doomed to fail.
🧵1/9
I do this job to write sentences like these. ❤️
(and enjoy them before my co-authors will ask to delete them as they are unprofessional).
(and enjoy them before my co-authors will ask to delete them as they are unprofessional).
April 24, 2025 at 11:44 AM
I do this job to write sentences like these. ❤️
(and enjoy them before my co-authors will ask to delete them as they are unprofessional).
(and enjoy them before my co-authors will ask to delete them as they are unprofessional).
March 21, 2025 at 11:15 AM
March 6 in Vienna and it‘s already more summer than it was ever summer in Sweden.
Happy about this today, worried about this for the marathon in April. 🥵
Happy about this today, worried about this for the marathon in April. 🥵
March 6, 2025 at 5:51 PM
March 6 in Vienna and it‘s already more summer than it was ever summer in Sweden.
Happy about this today, worried about this for the marathon in April. 🥵
Happy about this today, worried about this for the marathon in April. 🥵
The last talk of the year! Excited to present work w/ @lilymasonphd.bsky.social at @polsciuibk.bsky.social today.
I hope the presentation is clearer than the morning views, but great to be in Innsbruck anyways!
Thanks to @fabianhabersack.bsky.social for the invite⛷️
I hope the presentation is clearer than the morning views, but great to be in Innsbruck anyways!
Thanks to @fabianhabersack.bsky.social for the invite⛷️
December 10, 2024 at 9:27 AM
The last talk of the year! Excited to present work w/ @lilymasonphd.bsky.social at @polsciuibk.bsky.social today.
I hope the presentation is clearer than the morning views, but great to be in Innsbruck anyways!
Thanks to @fabianhabersack.bsky.social for the invite⛷️
I hope the presentation is clearer than the morning views, but great to be in Innsbruck anyways!
Thanks to @fabianhabersack.bsky.social for the invite⛷️
Turns out Austrians like walls in their forests. Once you get into a forest, you won‘t get out of the forest.
Today‘s integration lesson: choose your forest wisely. ☝🏽🤓
#running
Today‘s integration lesson: choose your forest wisely. ☝🏽🤓
#running
December 7, 2024 at 5:51 PM
Turns out Austrians like walls in their forests. Once you get into a forest, you won‘t get out of the forest.
Today‘s integration lesson: choose your forest wisely. ☝🏽🤓
#running
Today‘s integration lesson: choose your forest wisely. ☝🏽🤓
#running