I Never Thought of It That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times

Affective polarization refers to the growing emotional animosity between members of different political parties or social groups. This form of division is based on feelings and attitudes rather than policy disagreements. The phenomenon manifests as negative emotional reactions to those in opposing groups, often leading to personal dislike, distrust, and hostility that extends beyond political differences. Affective polarization can cause people to view members of opposing groups as enemies rather than fellow citizens with different viewpoints.

Bridging conversations are dialogues that help individuals understand each other by exploring the spaces between different perspectives. These exchanges involve active listening, genuine curiosity, and a willingness to examine assumptions and beliefs. Rather than aiming to change minds or win arguments, bridging conversations focus on building understanding and connection across divides through mutual exploration of ideas and experiences.

Chaining refers to the mental process of automatically linking someone’s stated belief to a series of increasingly extreme positions without evidence. This cognitive shortcut occurs when people assume that holding one view necessarily implies holding other, more controversial views based on previous patterns or experiences. For example, if someone expresses concern about property damage during protests, an observer engaging in chaining might automatically assume this person opposes racial justice efforts entirely, despite having no direct evidence of such beliefs.