Catherine Garton

All Publications

• Repairing cognitive distortions in political divides. Trends in cognitive sciences A Santos, L., Garton, C., Zaki, J. 2025

  Abstract

  Political animosity is on the rise, undermining both well-being and collective responses to global challenges. Interventions to decrease animosity and division often fail to yield lasting, generalized benefits. Drawing on cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and new empirical evidence, we argue that entrenched political conflicts are laden with cognitive distortions similar to those observed in clinical contexts. We propose that, by adapting CBT insights to political settings, interventionists can complement and enhance current depolarizing efforts. We provide suggestions for how future efforts should equip individuals to recognize and correct biased thinking outside of the laboratory, offering a pathway toward durably mitigating division and hostility.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.tics.2025.06.007

  View details for PubMedID 40582917

• Improving social connection with weak ties and strangers: effects of a new micro-intervention on interaction quality and social behavior JOURNAL OF POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY West, T. N., Prinzing, M. M., Garton, C., Berman, C. J., Zhou, J., Hale, J., Gratch, J., Fredrickson, B. L. 2025; 20 (4): 652-662

  View details for DOI 10.1080/17439760.2024.2394451

  View details for Web of Science ID 001302375500001