A first presidential impeachment… the COVID pandemic with great dissension over shutdowns, social distancing and mask-wearing…Our hotly contested 2020 election followed by major efforts at election reversal culminating with insurrection and a second impeachment trial...

It’s been quite a year, much too full of subject matter since we started researching and producing Purple Principle episodes on the theme of polarization. Episode 22, “Polarization as Plague,” is Part One of our two-part season finale. We start off in the neuroscience laboratory with previous featured guests, Dr. Abigail Marsh of Georgetown (Ep 4, “Heard from the Herd”) and Dr. Jay Van Bavel (Ep 9, “Your Brain on Partisanship”) for a quick lesson on the brain structures underlying political orientation and the brain functions fueling partisanship.

Yet brains haven’t changed in millenia. Why are we more partisan of late? Look no further than the polarizing nature of our two party political system, as noted by both Dr. Van Bavel and noted author and historian, Dr. Geoffrey Kabaservice (author of Rule and Ruin, Oxford Press). We also consult media experts from two different but equally influential domains: Dr. Robert Elliott Smith (University College London) on the polarizing algorithms of social media and Dr. Dominik Stecula on opinion-based Cable News.

What is a polarized nation and society to do? Several experts weigh in on that question during this fast-moving finale focused on the hyperpartisan plague. Please tune in, share us on social media, review us on Apple Music, and subscribe to our newsletter, The Purple Principle in Print, which collects the latest and greatest articles, trends, and issues around the perils of partisanship.

Original Music composed by Ryan Adair Rooney.

For show notes and transcript, please visit our website: www.fluentknowledge.com/shows/the-purple-principle/polarization-as-plague

Source Notes:

Keith Poole

Data. Voteview.

Lauren Sibilia. Vermont General Assembly.

Party Affiliation. Gallup.

Abigail Marsh. Georgetown University.

Abigail Marsh. The Laboratory on Social and Affective Neuroscience.

Across the Table. Pew Research Center.

Political Polarization in the American Public. Pew Research Center.

DeAngelis, T. (2001). “All you need is contact.” American Psychological Association 32:10.

Robert Elliott Smith.

Dominik Stecula

Kate Kenski et. al. (2017). "Broadcasting versus Narrowcasting: Do Mass Media Exist in the Twenty-First Century?." In The Oxford Handbook of Political Communication. : Oxford University Press.

“Fourth Congressional District.” Congressman Jason Altmire.

Jason Altmire (2017). Dead Center: How Political Polarization Divided America and What We Can Do About It. Sunbury Press.

E. McGhee et. al. (2014). A Primary Cause of Partisanship? Nomination Systems and Legislator Ideology. American Journal of Political Science, 58(2), 337-351.

Myq Kaplan.

Jay Van Bavel

Cikara, M., & Van Bavel, J. J. (2014). The Neuroscience of Intergroup Relations: An Integrative Review. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 9(3), 245–274.

Carolyn Funk et. al. (10/17/12). Genetic and Environmental Transmission of Political Orientations. Political Psychology 34 (6).

Trevor Potter. Campaign Legal Center.

“A primer on gerrymandering and political polarization.” Brookings Institute.

Geoffrey Kabaservice (2011).Rule and Ruin: The Downfall of Moderation and the Destruction of the Republican Party, From Eisenhower to the Tea Party

Geoffrey Kabaservice, Niskanen Center

Andrew Gelman

More in Common

The Hidden Tribes of America

India Opzoomer (9/24/20). “America Speaks: What do they think about cross-party marriages?” YouGov.

Alaskans for Better Elections - Yes on 2 for Better Elections

“Ranked Choice Voting 101.” FairVote.

John Opdycke. Open Primaries.

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