"In altre parole", Rosalba Morese's reflections on five topical issues

Rosalba Morese, lecturer in social psychology at the Faculty of Communication, Culture and Society of Università della Svizzera italiana (USI), was recently chosen as guest of the week for the radio programme "In altre parole" (Rete Due - RSI), a format in which, each week, a different guest discusses five topical issues that have particularly impressed them over the course of five episodes.

In the first episode, Rosalba Morese explored, through the lens of social psychology, why the funeral of Pope Francis saw a significant turnout from the faithful of all ages, who viewed him as an exemplary leader. She noted, "Pope Francis embodied shared values that established a common foundation, transforming the internal dynamics of individual social groups." The funeral fostered collective participation because, as the expert explained, "funerals represent more than just a ceremony; they can serve as a moment for social cohesion. They provide a context in which grief can be expressed safely." As social psychology suggests, grief acts as a bond that unites people; by sharing in one another's sorrow, individuals feel a greater sense of closeness.

The second episode focused on racial discrimination, which appears to be increasing in Switzerland. Most incidents occur in workplaces or schools. As Rosalba Morese explained, there is a tendency to categorise others based on whether they are part of our group or seen as different. She noted, "From childhood, we learn labels that we tend to attribute to social reference groups. These cognitive processes help us simplify our understanding of the outside world." Belonging to social reference groups is essential for everyone, and as a result, people often choose to conform rather than risk exclusion. The expert emphasised that breaking these labels, which are formed through implicit associations, is possible. She stated, "We need to cultivate empathy, a process that allows us to overcome differences and break the cycle of prejudices."

The third episode focused on the issue of political polarisation, inspired by the protests organised by the Italian right wing on April 25. Social psychology has long examined how political polarisation reinforces identity and group dynamics. Rosalba Morese explains, "The more one feels they belong to a group, the more they perceive opponents as enemies. Specific emotions that arise from belonging to a group act as a bonding force, leading us to take pride in our group. At the same time, however, these emotions can dehumanise our opponents, whom we end up hating." These behaviours appear to be influenced by cognitive and neurophysiological processes. Morese notes, "When we feel a sense of belonging to a group and align with it, our reward or gratification mechanisms are activated, which makes us feel good. Conversely, the activation of prejudices and stereotypes that paint others as being fundamentally different can trigger a negative emotional response, potentially leading to feelings of disgust."

In the fourth episode, the discussion focused on the collective memory that emerged after the COVID-19 pandemic. Rosalba Morese commented, "During the pandemic, social rules and norms changed, and the world seemed, metaphorically, smaller. Now that we are returning to normalcy, we may experience a sense of nostalgia for the protected environment that developed during that time." Additionally, the memory of the pandemic is also altered and softened, as certain cognitive biases come into play, helping us reorganise our recollections.

The fifth and final episode focused on the recent blackout in the Iberian Peninsula, which prompted people to turn a crisis into an opportunity for community sharing. "The Spanish episode demonstrates how a threat can become a chance to reorganise our social structures," explained the USI expert. Rosalba Morese added, "This technological deprivation has reignited fundamental social needs, such as the desire for relationships and connection. It seems that the synchronicity of relationships has been reactivated. Synchronicity allows us to engage appropriately in relationships and fulfils our neurosocial need to feel that we belong to a community." The expert explained that our nature requires real sociality, so it is essential to be connected, not just virtually.