What Are the Perception Gaps?

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On both sides, republicans and democrats, basically 55 % think tht the other side holds extreme views. People with large perception gaps are more likely to describe their opponents as hateful, ignorant and bigoted. This points to a vicious cycle of polarization. As our public debates become more hateful, many and the exhausted majority tun out. And we want to move from vicious downward spirals into virtuous upward spirals.

What do you think the other side thinks? Guest Dan Vallone is the Director of More in Common U.S.A., an organization that’s been asking Democrats and Republicans that critical question. Their work has uncovered countless “perception gaps” in our understanding of each other. For example, Democrats think that about 30 percent of Republicans support "reasonable gun control," but in reality, it’s about 70 percent. Both Republicans and Democrats think that about 50 percent of the other side would feel that physical violence is justified in some situations, but the actual number for each is only about five percent. “Both sides are convinced that the majority of their political opponents are extremists,” says Dan. “And yet, that's just not true.” Social media encourages the most extreme views to speak the loudest and rise to the top—and it’s hard to start a conversation and work together when we’re all arguing with mirages. But Dan’s insights and the work of More in Common provide a hopeful guide to unraveling the distortions we’ve come to accept and correcting our foggy vision.