Uploaded January 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
If you’re exhausted by the constant vitriol and division, you aren’t alone. Our problem is deeper than a simple difference of opinion: we’ve succumbed to affective polarization, where we don’t just disagree with the other side—we dislike and distrust them.
When tribalism takes over, we prioritize “winning” over the truth. This creates a perception gap, where we overestimate how extreme our “opponents” are, fueling a cycle of dehumanization.
To take the temperature down and reclaim your agency, learn to spot emotional red flags like outrage and self-righteousness. Practice articulating the best possible version of the other side’s position (steel man). And most of all, remember that you are not your beliefs
Don't let yourself be manipulated. And don't let tribalism do your thinking for you.
Special guest: My emotional support cat, Dmitri
#Polarization #Tribalism #Politics #Short #Shorts
Recommended reading:
Redmond, Timothy J. Political Tribalism in America: How Hyper-Partisanship Dumbs Down Democracy and How to Fix It. Jefferson, NC: McFarland, 2022.
Sources
-Mason, Lilliana. Uncivil Agreement: How Politics Became Our Identity. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2018.
-Yudkin, Daniel, Stephen Hawkins, and Tariq Dixon. The Perception Gap:How False Impressions are Pulling Americans Apart. New York: More in Common, 2019.
If you’re exhausted by the constant vitriol and division, you aren’t alone. Our problem is deeper than a simple difference of opinion: we’ve succumbed to affective polarization, where we don’t just disagree with the other side—we dislike and distrust them.
When tribalism takes over, we prioritize “winning” over the truth. This creates a perception gap, where we overestimate how extreme our “opponents” are, fueling a cycle of dehumanization.
To take the temperature down and reclaim your agency, learn to spot emotional red flags like outrage and self-righteousness. Practice articulating the best possible version of the other side’s position (steel man). And most of all, remember that you are not your beliefs
Don't let yourself be manipulated. And don't let tribalism do your thinking for you.
Special guest: My emotional support cat, Dmitri
#Polarization #Tribalism #Politics #Short #Shorts
Recommended reading:
Redmond, Timothy J. Political Tribalism in America: How Hyper-Partisanship Dumbs Down Democracy and How to Fix It. Jefferson, NC: McFarland, 2022.
Sources
-Mason, Lilliana. Uncivil Agreement: How Politics Became Our Identity. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2018.
-Yudkin, Daniel, Stephen Hawkins, and Tariq Dixon. The Perception Gap:How False Impressions are Pulling Americans Apart. New York: More in Common, 2019.
