Global consciousness as a remedy for selective exposure to outgroup information

Abstract

Intergroup conflicts—fuelled by ideological divides, resource competition, and cultural clashes—have intensified global polarization, reinforcing individuals' tendency to engage in selective exposure (SE). This research examines whether Global Consciousness (GC)—characterized by awareness of human interconnectedness, respect for diversity, and moral responsibility—can reduce SE by promoting openness to outgroup information, particularly positive content. Following a pretest validating the SE measure, we conducted three studies using both survey and experimental designs (N = 488). Study 1 found that dispositional GC (i.e., Global Citizenship Identification and Identification with All Humanity) was positively associated with the selection of positive information of foreign outgroup. Study 2 employed an identity-based priming of GC and revealed main effects: higher intergroup conflict reduced the selection of outgroup information, especially positive content, while higher GC increased it. Study 3 primed mindset-based GC and further revealed a significant interaction: under high intergroup conflict, participants with higher GC showed greater selection of positive outgroup information, indicating reduced SE. The findings of this study reveal the crucial role of GC in facilitating individuals' acquisition of comprehensive information about outgroups. This not only broadens the potential applications of GC but also offers new perspectives for reducing SE. Significantly, the method developed in the current research for manipulating both dimensions of global consciousness—GC identity and GC mindset—provides a pathway for future experimental studies on GC.