When Selective Outrage Takes Over Congress

I’ll admit that I have little use for Marjorie Taylor Greene. Similarly, I’ve never thought that highly of Maxine Waters either. Both represent an ideologically extreme and unnecessarily combative approach to representative governance that I find counterproductive. As a result of their...
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It’s Not Just Them: Research Suggests Irrational Biases Across the Political Spectrum

In our increasingly polarized age, it has become commonplace to attribute our political opponents’ beliefs to their irrationality. Advancements in psychology seem to validate this view: we are prone to confirmation bias, engage in motivated reasoning, and become self-insulated in social...
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Surveys Show Republican Voters Actually Support Increasing the Minimum Wage, Just Not to $15/Hour

U.S. Congress will consider a $15 minimum wage for the second time soon. Joe Biden and most congressional Democrats want to more than double the minimum hourly wage from its current level of $7.25. Although Democrats have this policy goal, survey data (see below) show that the majority of...
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Are Republicans or Democrats More Compassionate? Research Says It May Be a Trick Question

We know the stereotypes of “bleeding heart” liberals, compared with conservatives who are supposedly less caring. But what does academic research say on the topic of which party is more compassionate? According to research published by Dr. Meri Long of the University of Pittsburgh,...
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Surveys Show that Democrats — Not Just Republicans — are Proud to be American

From the Left This view is from a writer rated Lean Left. Surveys show majorities of Democrats and Republicans are proud to be American, preferring life in the U.S. to any other place. Many people agree on key aspects of what it means to be a “true American.” A false narrative popular...
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Four Steps for Depolarizing with Mass Messaging: The Power of Commonality, Uniqueness, Elevation, and Togetherness

Political sides in the U.S. have the potential to see each other in highly negative ways. They can see each other as an out-group that is distant, stereotyped, lesser, and to be avoided, as I argued in my last article . This article focuses on the corresponding solutions. Each of those...
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We’re on a Hill, They’re in a Valley: The Four Steps that Happen When Animosity Grows Toward the Other Political Party

What happens if animosity grows toward those in the other political party? What are negative ways we can feel about any group that is not our own? These are not just academic questions, but they are important to answer in order to figure out how to reduce political polarization. This...
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Reducing Polarization: Research Says Typical Republicans and Democrats are Moderate, Only Talk Politics Occasionally

Animosity towards members of an opposing political party has substantially worsened in recent years. But much of what we know about polarization and citizens’ attitudes to their political opponents may be wrong. \When Democrats and Republicans say they reflexively dislike each other, they...
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Reducing Polarization: Learn That the Other Side Thinks of You More Positively Than You Expect

From the Center This viewpoint is from a writer rated Center. As friendships and family relationships continue to strain or break over political disagreements, Americans are learning firsthand about a new kind of political polarization: affective polarization . Affective polarization is...
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