Annual Review of Political Science· 2018Q1· Review
The Origins and Consequences of Affective Polarization in the United States
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- Q1SCImago
- 2018year
Short summary
A new form of political division, affective polarization, has emerged where ordinary Americans increasingly dislike and distrust members of the opposing party, extending beyond issue-based disagreements.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Key points
- Affective polarization is defined by mutual dislike and distrust between opposing party members.
- Partisanship functions as a powerful social identity, contributing to this animosity.
- Factors exist that intensify partisan animus.
- The effects of affective polarization reach into non-political attitudes and behaviors.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Abstract
While previously polarization was primarily seen only in issue-based terms, a new type of division has emerged in the mass public in recent years: Ordinary Americans increasingly dislike and distrust those from the other party. Democrats and Republicans both say that the other party's members are hypocritical, selfish, and closed-minded, and they are unwilling to socialize across party lines. This phenomenon of animosity between the parties is known as affective polarization. We trace its origins to the power of partisanship as a social identity, and explain the factors that intensify partisan animus. We also explore the consequences of affective polarization, highlighting how partisan affect influences attitudes and behaviors well outside the political sphere. Finally, we discuss strategies that might mitigate partisan discord and conclude with suggestions for future work.
The authors' abstract, as published at the source. Annual Review of Political Science, 2018 · DOI ↗
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Field: Political Science and International Relations
Political Science and International RelationsSocial Sciences