Steve Stewart-Williams at N-N-N, Imaginary Enemies.
The total sample size across the five studies was just under 5,000 participants.
Six Key Findings
1. Both Sides Exaggerate the Other Side’s Agreement with Extreme Views
I think we knew this. All of it. It's nice to have someone test it and put numbers to it. When I was young media voices were center-left. Now media voices are among the most extreme.
In terms of polarization I think point 4 (Both Sides Are Reluctant To Criticize Their Own Side’s Extreme Views) is of greater importance. The greatest change I see over the about half century I've been aware of politics is the loss of groups within each party that support one or more policies generally aligned the other (abortion and public education, for example). This simultaneously makes the more extreme wing think their position is more broadly popular while providing less evidence to both parties of dissenting views in the other.
ReplyDeleteThat is a good take on how extremism increases. It also explains the danger of extremists insisting on purity in their own party. Candidates used to have to appeal to a wing of their own party much more than they do now. The current equivalent is appealing to demographic groups, which is done with clever packaging rather than positions.
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