Partisanship and divided perceptions of the American and British flags.

This article examines how partisan identities influence perceptions of national flags in the United States and the United Kingdom. Across three studies involving Democrats and Republicans in the U.S. and Labour and Conservative supporters in the U.K., it was found that Democrats and Labour participants associated their national flags with more negative emotions and concepts, while Republicans and Conservatives associated them with more positive affect and national ideals. These partisan differences were largely explained by whether individuals perceived the flag as representing their political ingroup or outgroup, with positive feelings linked to ingroup association and negative feelings linked to outgroup association. The research also suggests that emphasizing a superordinate national identity (e.g., being American or British) can increase positive affect toward the flag across partisan lines. The findings highlight the complex and sometimes divisive role national symbols play in polarized societies.