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Polarized

How opinions unite and divide us

Genetics
Lies, Damned Lies, and Genetics Statistics

Thomas J. Leeper PhD on April 25, 2012

The challenge of determining whether one thing causes another is the mantra of statistics classes, but human frailty at inferring causation makes assessing potential causes difficult.

The challenge of determining whether one thing causes another is the mantra of statistics classes, but human frailty at inferring causation makes assessing potential causes difficult.

Politics
Born That Way: Do Our Genes Determine Our Politics?

Thomas J. Leeper PhD on April 23, 2012

A search is underway for a genetic basis of political ideology and behavior. Despite the efforts and media hype, it is unclear what’s been found. Are we born liberal and conservative?

A search is underway for a genetic basis of political ideology and behavior. Despite the efforts and media hype, it is unclear what’s been found. Are we born liberal and conservative?

Forgiveness
Misinformation on the Mind

Thomas J. Leeper PhD on April 10, 2012

Death panels, socialism, the end of Medicare. Misinformation about health care is abundant, and that isn’t the only area where U.S. politics churns up a lot of misperceptions. Who’s to blame when we get the facts wrong?

Death panels, socialism, the end of Medicare. Misinformation about health care is abundant, and that isn’t the only area where U.S. politics churns up a lot of misperceptions. Who’s to blame when we get the facts wrong?

Media
Has Health Care Polarized Voters?

Thomas J. Leeper PhD on April 6, 2012

The puzzling thing about the apparent divide in Americans' opinions about health care reform is that people are actually not divided about health care reform.

The puzzling thing about the apparent divide in Americans' opinions about health care reform is that people are actually not divided about health care reform.

Fear
American Ephebiphobia

Thomas J. Leeper PhD on April 1, 2012

Culture is obsessed with youth: beauty treatments curb the signs of aging, literature evokes the innocence of youth, and young love is glorified for its lack of complication. But views of youths themselves tend to be negative and ephebiphobic: we see young people as threatening, ignorant, lazy, and disengaged. What’s the deal with that?

Culture is obsessed with youth: beauty treatments curb the signs of aging, literature evokes the innocence of youth, and young love is glorified for its lack of complication. But views of youths themselves tend to be negative and ephebiphobic: we see young people as threatening, ignorant, lazy, and disengaged. What’s the deal with that?

Trust
Do You Trust the Supreme Court?

Thomas J. Leeper PhD on March 30, 2012

With the nation’s highest court deciding one of the most important legal cases in recent history, it is no surprise that it is making headlines. Despite a deep divide in public opinion over health care, the public sees the nine justices charged with making the final call on the ACA as a trusted institution. Do you trust the Court to make that decision? And should you?

With the nation’s highest court deciding one of the most important legal cases in recent history, it is no surprise that it is making headlines. Despite a deep divide in public opinion over health care, the public sees the nine justices charged with making the final call on the ACA as a trusted institution. Do you trust the Court to make that decision? And should you?

Media
Strong and Weak Opinions Define (Republican) Primaries

Thomas J. Leeper PhD on March 26, 2012

Most news about the 2012 Republican primaries has focused on which candidates are faring well in which states. This focus on the levels of support for each of the Republican candidates misses a critically important part of those opinions and the larger primary election process —something that social psychologists call attitude strength.

Most news about the 2012 Republican primaries has focused on which candidates are faring well in which states. This focus on the levels of support for each of the Republican candidates misses a critically important part of those opinions and the larger primary election process —something that social psychologists call attitude strength.

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November 2024 magazine cover
November 2024
The Perfectionism Trap

When we fall prey to perfectionism, we think we’re honorably aspiring to be our very best, but often we’re really just setting ourselves up for failure, as perfection is impossible and its pursuit inevitably backfires.

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