Polarization in America has drastically increased over the last 15 years as the number of Americans who hold a mix of Democratic and Republican views has diminished. This polarization is aggravated in part by the way people today see their affiliation with either party as not merely political, but also as a part of their identity. Resulting disagreements are becoming increasingly more personal.  There are at least 4 factors that have contributed to this increased polarization: economic inequality, the internet, a fracturing national media landscape, and a decline in local news. All of these have worked to create a society where people only have to associate and interact with others, news sites, etc, that share their same views and opinions. Where in the 1970s only one-half of all newlyweds shared the same political views, today that number has increased to three-quarters.  While studies and polls will claim that Americans are split 50-50 on our most divisive issues, the reality is far more complex. The far left or far right are in staunch agreement with their side’s view. However, the middle majority tends to actually have a 50-50 split on these issues. We have to find narratives about the big issues like immigration or LGBTQ rights that do not polarize people. Turn “them” into “us” through communication and contact that builds bridges and highlights our common values and identities. Some key strategies for doing that include: Activating shared values, like family, community, and social good, and shared identities, like parents, sports fans, foodies, etc. Putting people first in communications, not policy, by again emphasizing shared values and aspirations rather than policy objectives. This will make people more willing to share their stories with their social networks. Targeting communications at the local level, where a shared sense of community allows for greater trust among participants and a sense of interdependence. Although national division exists, local communities are far more likely to find common ground. Even non-political engagement can work to decrease isolation and increase social trust, laying the groundwork for potential political action. For example, In areas with neighborhood amenities – coffee shops, libraries, etc – there is decreased isolation and increased social trust. As such, it is important to focus on the local communities and get people talking to each other. The best way to promote change is by motivating and changing communities and groups that already exist. People have to connect and engage in each other’s stories if they are going to be motivated to care for each other. 

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Can Empathy Save the Day?
How Fostering Familiarity Can Drive
Policy and Wins

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HELLO!

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AGENDA The Polarization Problem
1. A quick snapshot of the situation
Why Is This Happening?
1. Understanding political polarization
2. Contributing factors of polarization
How Can We Overcome It?
1. Transform “them” into “us”
2. People first, not policy
3. Localism and contact building
Questions!

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The Polarization Problem:
A Snapshot

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Polarization: The Partisan Divide

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Everything Has Become Politicized

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“The American public is no more
divided now over policy than it was 30
years ago...Nonetheless, Americans
believe that their policy divisions are
especially pronounced.”
-Robert B. Talisse, Vanderbilt University

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Impact on Issues

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Impact on Issues

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The Moveable
Middle is Neither
Myth Nor
Monolith

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Live Poll

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Why Is This Happening?!
1. Understanding Political Polarization

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Understanding Political Polarization
Political Polarization is a
complex process.
- Two levels: Elite vs.
mass
- Most pronounced
among highly engaged
- Issue consistency: views
on one issue predict
views on unrelated
topics (e.g. gun control,
climate change)
Asymmetric Polarization: Republicans
have moved further to the right than
Democrats have to the left
Social Polarization: Our social identities are
increasingly aligning with our political
identities (e.g. conservative evangelical and
liberal atheist)
Affective Polarization: Republicans and
Democrats dislike each other more and
trust each other less

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Asymmetric Polarization (Elite Level)

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Affective Polarization

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Polarization: Social Sorting

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Polarization: Social Sorting

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Causes of Polarization
1) Economic Inequality
a) Democratic legislators have become more liberal on economic issues in response
to rising inequality
2) The Internet & Curating Culture
a) Ideological segregation on the Internet is common
b) Social media algorithms create passive filtering mechanisms
3) Fox News & the Fracturing of the Media Landscape
a) Growth of ideologically diverse media outlets allow consumers to self-select news
4) Decline of Local News
a) Decline of local news has shifted political attention to national news, which
focuses more on conflict and highlights political winners and losers

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Political Segregation & The Trump Effect
1) The Internet & Online Dating
a) 40% of new couples meet online, now the most common way for couples to meet
b) Growing preference for political affinity or more sophisticated sorting methods?
2) The Trump Effect
a) Survey of OkCupid users found that 74% said voting for Trump was a “deal
breaker”
b) According to eHarmony, the percentage of their users who advertised their political
affiliation tripled in 2017 compared to the previous year
3) Rising Political Agreement among Married Couples
a) In 1973, 54% of newlyweds shared the same political affiliation. By 2014, 74% did.
b) Why does this matter? Political network homogeneity is associated with more
extreme opinions and more negative outgroup attitudes

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Why Is This Happening?!
1. Understanding Political Polarization
2. Contributing Factors of Polarization

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Less about… More about…
Policies Values
Parties Identities
Rationality Emotions
Left vs Right Scale Cosmopolitan
There are big rewards in understanding this
shift, and big costs in ignoring it.
● Politics is no longer defined by the old
left/right spectrum of the role of
government
● Increasingly it is played out as a battle
between cosmopolitan and traditional
values
This makes debates about culture and
identity more prominent, and it polarizes
both institutions (e.g., media, civil society)
and issues (e.g., education, immigration).
Beyond Left and
Right

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Hidden
Tribes of
America

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Issue Patterns and Polarization

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In-Group vs Out-Group
Ideological “bubbles” translate
into much larger “Perception
Gaps” regarding the other side.
The more partisan we are, the
more we see the other side as
extreme.

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How Can We Overcome It?
1. Transform “Them” Into “Us”

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“Narrative work, the shifting of consciousness
and values, is not just a long game, it is the long
game. It is not just about finding the right words
to spread particular messages, but the ability to
activate the underlying values and beliefs behind
those messages. It’s about normalizing justice,
inclusivity and equity.”
Towards New Gravity, The Narrative Initiative

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Transforming “Them” into “Us”: Shared Identities and Values
Immigrant Inclusion Strategy
● On immigration, Americans worry more about a lack of common values than
common culture.
● Lean on values and common identities to bind us.
○ Values: Family, Community, Social Good
○ Identities: Parents, Sports Fans, Foodies, Game of Thrones Fans

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Transforming “Them” into “Us”: Raise Warmth and Competence
Immigrant Inclusion Strategy
● High Warmth/High Competence: Pride/Admiration (People Like Us)
● High Warmth/Low Competence: Pity/Sympathy (Elderly/People w/ disabilities)
● Low Warmth/High Competence: Envy/Jealousy (High Skilled Immigrants)
● Low Warmth/Low Competence: Fear/Disgust
(Refugees/Undocumented/Homeless)
*Fiske, Susan, Stereotype Content Model

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How Can We Overcome It?
1. Transform “Them” Into “Us”
2. People First, Not Policy

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People First, Not Policy
Lessons From Marriage Equality
1. Message with universal values rather
than policy objectives.
“Rights & Benefits”
“Love & Commitment”

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People First, Not Policy
Lessons From Marriage Equality
1. Message with universal values rather
than policy objectives.
2. Urge your community to share their
stories with their concentric circles.

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People First, Not Policy
Lessons From Marriage Equality
1. Message with universal values rather
than policy objectives.
2. Urge your community to share their
stories with their concentric circles.
3. Give your audience a stake in the fight
by introducing them to your community.

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People First, Not Policy
Trial & Error on Nondiscrimination

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How Can We Overcome It?
1. Transform “Them” Into “Us”
2. People First, Not Policy
3. Localism & Contact Building

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National Division But Local Agreement

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Transforming “Them” into “Us”: Social Contact
Immigrant Inclusion Strategy
● Connecting groups across difference to work on shared goals reduces
prejudice.
● Social contact relieves the anxieties we hold about one another and
allows deeper relationships to form.
● Participants must “have equal status, work on common goals without
competition, and have opportunities for personal interaction.”
● Embrace new and unusual partnerships.
*Allport, Gordon, Social Contact Theory

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Transforming “Them” into “Us”: Final thoughts
Immigrant Inclusion Strategy
● Focus on mutual interdependence and shared values.
● Activate identities that bind us.
● Abandon immigrant exceptionalism or struggle stories (they
“other” immigrants.)
● Insights based on deep research.

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Transform “Them” into “Us”
through communication and
contact that builds bridges and
highlights our common values and
identities.”
-Wendy Feliz

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Live Poll

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Questions, Please!

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TAKEAWAYS You’re not crazy; it is
tough times out there.
The “moveable middle” is
neither myth nor monolith.
People in-group as instinct;
trigger with care.
3
2
1

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TOOLS Activate shared values
and identities.
Put people first, not policy.
Go local.3
2
1

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THANK YOU!