The Role of Politics in Affective Polarization

A working paper by Elizabeth Connors who's an assistant professor at the University of South Carolina suggests that there are social dynamics in play as well. She asks people not just like what do you think of the opposition party? But she says please answer these questions As as you think a Democrat wanting to impress other Democrats would Or alternatively as you Think A Democrat wanting to disappoint other Democrats would and there you see just radically different Responses to the thermometer ratings. When people are asked In the disappoint category as opposed to the impressed category, they have much lower levels of affective polarization.