Politics as a New Form of Entertainment
Politics was never meant to be a source of entertainment, though sadly it has become one over the years. Even more unfortunately, the two-sided nature of our current political model naturally makes it more adversarial. (I could go on about the duopoly, but this is not the time nor place.) Binary thinking leads to “us vs. them” worldviews.
If you are not Us, then you are one of Them. Somehow along the way, our opposites are no longer simply wrong, but evil. If someone is wrong, you can agree to disagree, educate them, or find a compromise. If someone is evil, they must be stopped at all costs.
As tension grows, communication fails and compromise is difficult, if not impossible, to attain. In addition, polarization can seep into other areas of life outside of politics, including everyday relationships, finances, employment and even health as the COVID-19 pandemic has proven.
Are you Part of Groupthink?
This type of thinking can easily lead to an interesting psychological phenomenon known as groupthink. In its most basic definition, groupthink occurs when people in a group seek consensus, even when they know they are in the wrong or must change their opinions and beliefs to fit in.
The classic hallmark of groupthink is an intolerance of dissent, which can result in poor decision making with irrational and well as moral and ethical consequences. Some other indicators that groupthink is occurring can include: illusions of unanimity, unquestioned beliefs, rationalizing, stereotyping of in-group and out-group members, self-censorship of members, censors that hide problematic information, illusions of invulnerability, and direct pressure to conform. Does this sound like any political parties you know? More importantly, does this sound like a good way to have people making decisions that can affect all of us?
Make Politics Boring Again
How did we get here? There are several places where blame can be laid. The 24-hour news coverage means eventually anchors have nothing to talk about and viewers lose interest. There is a financial incentive to keep people watching, and the easiest way to do so is to be on the lookout for something that can signal outrage. And the easiest way to create outrage is to bring in that binary thinking – the “Them” then provide a steady stream of things to be outraged about simply by existing and having opinions.
If viewers are thinking independently and logically and not just reacting, they do not fall for this trick. This same principle applies to political fundraising – if you have ever financially supported a member of either major party you are likely still getting fundraising letters and emails, no matter how long ago you donated. If people stay outraged and worry that the nation is on the brink of collapse or civil war, it is far easier to ask them for money – and they are far likelier to contribute.
I have news for everyone: If our nation is one election away from collapsing, then it is already too late. The good news is, we as a nation have a deep keel and can handle turbulent waters. Shifts in politics and popular opinion are natural and to be expected.
Another major driver of polarization is social media in general. Over the years, different websites and apps have allowed more customization of feeds and updated algorithms to keep showing people similar content to what they have previously interacted with. More and more, people’s news feeds and home pages are being filled with only like-minded posts and articles.
It becomes easy to think you are in the majority, you are right, and most normal people agree with you, no matter what side of the spectrum you fall on. Additionally, a lot of news reporting now circles around who posted what on social media, creating a vicious cycle. However, some research indicates that the effect of social media may be more complex , depending on factors like type of language used, who shares information, amount of contact with opposing messengers, cognitive styles and more.
What Do We Do About It?
The problem is real, and not necessarily getting better. What can be done? What can one person do? Quite a bit.
One of the best ways to combat groupthink and tribalism is to police your own side and hold them to higher standards. It is one way to break the “they did it, so we have license to do it as well” mindset that permeates modern politics. Instead, focus on your own side’s actions.
Try this mental exercise – if the other side did the same thing, would you be up in arms? Then do not support your party doing it. Speak up, offer alternatives, take a stand for principles among the shifting sands of populist ideology.
Call out the liars, grifters, conmen, demagogues, pot-stirrers, and general drama addicts when you see them, and then move on. Avoid giving them the one thing they want most – your attention. This is especially important when it comes to the politicians that fall in this category. Hold them accountable for their inflammatory words and bringing anger, fear, and hatred into politics – and do not provide support to those playing this game.
Avoid clickbait and outrageous headlines. If there are words in all caps, exclamation points or someone was “destroyed” or “owned,” it probably is not a reliable source and is likely trying to stoke the fires of tribalism.
An even easier way to combat polarization is to read, watch or listen to the people that practice these guidelines. Find people who are not scared to admit when they are wrong and who stick to their principles – not ideology – even when it is unpopular with their “side.” They may be on to something.
It takes a lot of moral courage to call out your own side for wrongdoing when all the attention is on the “enemy.” It also pays off to occasionally read things clearly from the opposing side, to get an idea of what they are hearing about the issues that concern you.
Break Out of Your Bubble
One of the best surefire ways to break out of your bubble is to talk to different people. You don’t even have to talk about politics, instead focus on common interests. Over time you may find that they are good people even if they hold opposing views. In many cases, people can all identify the problem but simply disagree on how to fix it.
You may find that our political views are often only a small part of who we are as people, and we have more in common than we think. People tend to enjoy the same foods, television shows, books, movies, sporting events. People generally want their children to be safe and get a good education, they enjoy leisure time and tend to search for meaning in their work and life. They are more than their tweets and voting records, just as you are.
