3 reasons why American politics have become so divisive - study

[NurseJackie]

This was interesting to read. Much of it makes sense. (What do you think? ... Discuss.)

https://bigthink.com/politics-current-affairs/republicans-and-democrats-hate-other-side-more-than-love-own-party


3 reasons why American politics have become so divisive – study

Partisan division has reached its peak, shows an alarming new study that identifies three crucial components.

Paul Ratner
31 October, 2020

• American political polarization has reached alarming heights, shows a new study.
• Democrats and Republicans hate the other side more than they love their own party.
• The polarization grows worse despite the fact that differences between the sides are not so dramatic.

To say that the current election is stressful and divisive is beyond an understatement. The United States is strained at the seams, ready to explode no matter who wins the presidency. A new study shows just how bad it's become, with anger at the opposing party now outstripping the love a supporter might have for their own party. To put it in other words: People hate those on the opposite side of the political spectrum more than they care for their own.

Is this a recipe for disaster? The study describes the current political attitudes in the country as "political sectarianism," linking it to religious fervor. The research also shows that, for many, political identity has become their primary identity.

The study's lead author Eli Finkel, professor of social psychology at Northwestern University, described the dangers of the situation:

(more at link above)

[brer cat]

1. Very good read, NJ.

Adding this bit:

The authors identified three specific behavioral reasons that have led to political sectarianism:

1. "Othering" – seeing the other side as different.

2. "Aversion" – seeing the other side as unlikable.

3. "Moralization" – seeing the other side as immoral.

The scientists found that while people have kept their positive and warm feelings towards their own partisans, the predominant sentiment towards the other party has turned to outright hatred.

I see this with republicans I know. I think "Othering" encompasses "Aversion" and "Moralization." We are different, therefore we are bad. This is true of racism as well.

[Harker]

5. It's an appropriate response when applied

properly to specific individuals.

[Freddie]

2. Some "both sides do it" BS here

And yes Repugs ARE immoral.

[NurseJackie]

3. That's a simplistic description... it's deeper than a "both sides-ism" label.

That's a simplistic description... it's deeper than a "both sides-ism" label. I know it's a very "stale" read for some people who don't want to take the time to look more critically at things, instead of focusing only on the superficial. It is a very thoughtful analysis.

And it's not all bad news either. There's some hope to be found as well:

Finkel noted. "But these differences exist more in people's heads than in reality. There's a whole lot of common ground, but Americans struggle to see it."

[Skittles]

8. I AGREE

one side loves FASCISM and the other one does not

[Martin Eden]

4. Bothsiderism

While much of what the article states is true on the surface, it does not touch upon the truth and validity of one side versus the other.

It reminds me of a column Paul Krugman wrote in 2000 when Bush was running against Gore and GW was spouting economic numbers that simply didn't add up. In commenting on the mainstream media's efforts to appear "fair and balanced" Krugman commented if Bush declared the world was flat, headlines the next day would read: Shape of Earth; views differ.

The article is just plain wrong when it states that both parties are shifting towards the extreme fringes, right and left. This makes no sense given the Democrats nominated a moderate with a history of working across the aisle while the Republican president is veering so far towards rightwing authoritarianism that nearly 500 mostly conservative national security veterans signed a letter urging the public to vote for Joe Biden because Donald Trump poses a danger to our democracy and to our national security.

Having said all that, I agree the extremely bitter divisiveness and hatred of the other side does not bode well for the future of America. One of our greatest presidents said a House divided against itself cannot stand, and he was right.

By all means we have to rise up and defeat the neofascism which threatens to take over our government. Winning elections has never been so important.

However, if we want love, compsssion, and kindness to prevail then we must embody that in our own behaviour -- even (or especially) when dealing with the tens of millions of our fellow citizens who've been conned by decades of propaganda and by the Charlatan-In-Chief whose chief talent is pushing the buttons of his supporters.

Many of whom are/were our friends and relatives. People we've loved in the past who now seem alien to us.

Reconciliation will be difficult, but is absolutely necessary if we are to have the country we want with all our hearts.

Some on the other side are beyond reach, but diversity exists across the political spectrum. Not everyone will respond to a call for the Better Angels of Our Nature, but that is exactly what was needed to heal the wounds of a civil war that ended 155 years ago -- and is needed now in heading off a prolonged uncivil war between us and our neighbors in the weeks and months and years to come.

[Skittles]

9. excellent assessment

[myccrider]

10. +1,000

There have been several studies, iirc, and I don’t have links handy, that show the Democratic Party has not drifted way to the left in the last 40 years. It is in fact the Republicans who have charged hard toward authoritarianism and right-wing crazy. It’s Rs who started demonizing the Ds 20-30 years ago.

That is the source of the polarization and it pisses me off that some preach that we are supposed to make major compromises with them, which means aiding and abetting the move toward fascism, in order to placate the bothsiderism baloney.

Did compromising with Hitler ever do any good? There was a time when this comparison would have been over the top, but sometimes invoking Godwin is wrong. Trump has stripped the last few tatters of respectability from the Republican leadership and shown the rotten core of their naked power grabs and contempt for democracy, especially using racism.

There is growing tribalism among Ds, but it’s in reaction to the assaults on ourselves, on common decency and on this democracy.

[dugog55]

6. Here is the main reason there is animosity between Party's, and it is not difficult to see

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[LizBeth]

7. The dishonesty, criminality, vile behavior is certainly an huge difference.