Pet & Animal: How to Reduce Political Polarization in Your Own Life

Political polarization is at an all-time high in the United States. It seems like just about everyone is picking a side, and rejecting anyone else who isn’t on the same page. This separation can affect meaningful relationships and place a wedge between you and those you love. You don’t have to live with this polarization, however, if you respect other opinions, stay away from the media, and educate yourself on politics.

EditSteps

EditRespecting Other Opinions

Avoid assuming the other side is “wrong.” When you characterize yourself as one political party, it’s difficult not to think that the other party is wrong. However, when you’re trying to remove political polarization from your life, it’s important to remember that the other side has merits as well.
- You likely have a loved one who belongs to the other party, and if you respect that person, you should know they have a reason for choosing the side they are on.^[1]
Attempt to see the other side’s point of view. Just as you have reasons for why you belong to the political party you do, so do other people. Consider people’s backgrounds, religious beliefs, and cultures when attempting to see why they belong to the party they do. Removing polarization from your life is all about accepting other people and their beliefs.
- If you know someone who has different political views, respectfully ask why they believe what they do. You could say, “I respect you and your beliefs and am curious why you have the political beliefs that you do. I want to learn about the other side of the political party.” This isn’t the time to argue or confront them on their views. Simply sit back and listen.^[2]
Agree to disagree on politics. You’ll need to decide what is more important to you when you have people in your life who don’t hold your political beliefs: changing their minds or keeping the relationship. If you want to maintain the connection you have, you may just need to agree to disagree on the subject. This could mean avoiding talking about politics at all.
- If your loved one attempts to engage you in a political conversation in which you know conflict could occur, you could say, “Out of respect to you and our relationship, I don’t think we should talk about politics. We have different beliefs and points of view and it seems that we argue when we discuss them. I want to continue having a good relationship with you and I think talking about politics threatens that.” They may be upset at first, but they will likely understand over time.^[3]

EditUsing the Media Wisely

Watch the news with caution. The media is infamous for playing political sides. In fact, certain major news stations are known for being either more conservative or more liberal. Avoid watching them, as doing so can increase the amount of polarization you experience.
- For example, Fox News is known for being conservative, whereas CNN leans more towards the liberal side. To be sure you're getting information straight from the source, count on watching interviews that allow politicians to express their views.^[4]
- To avoid developing polarizing views, try not to lean one way or the other, but spend time watching liberal, conservative, or third-party content with an open mind. Also, be sure to verify the information you receive from other reputable sources.
- Keep in mind that each political party has their own echo chamber of information. Be aware that there are two sides to the story and be cautious about what you believe. Try to find multiple perspectives on an issue before making up your mind.
Reduce time spent on social media. People tend to surround themselves with those who share their political beliefs. As such, you may notice that the people you are friends with on social media have similar political stances. Stay away from, or reduce the amount of time you spend on social media sites to avoid seeing polarizing posts.
- If you can’t break free of social media, use a filter tool to limit what you see. For instance, on Facebook, you can hide your friends’ posts without actually unfriending them.^[5]
- When things get tense, simply log out of your social media platforms for self-care. Do this if you feel like others' viewpoints are too upsetting or biased.
Be judicious in your web-browsing. The beauty of the Internet is that it gives people a place to express their views. This is also a double-edged sword because it is the perfect arena to create political polarization. You may inadvertently visit a person’s blog in which they freely discuss their own views, which can add to the feeling of separation you are experiencing.
- If you must visit a news or political site, attempt to find one that isn’t biased. For instance, independent reporters or news sites are more likely to be unbiased than those that are ran by big companies.^[6]
- If you want to reduce political polarization, look for impartial, fact-based sources like FactCheck.org or Project Vote Smart.^[7]

EditEducating Yourself About Different Political Parties

Talk to someone you trust. Have a conversation about the different political parties and their beliefs with someone who you trust. To get an unbiased opinion, speak with someone you don’t believe will try to sway you either way.
- To get the conversation started, you could say, “I really respect your knowledge of politics and would like to learn more about the political parties from you. I think you could tell me in an unbiased manner, which is what I’m looking for.”
- If they aren’t willing to talk about it with you, graciously accept their decision and avoid bringing it up again.^[8]
Take a course about politics. Check with your local college to see what political courses are offered. These classes are a great resource to learn about political beliefs in an unbiased manner. Your library, senior or community center, or church may also offer these types of courses.
- You may also be able to take online courses or find a tutorial about politics. Doing it this way may give you more flexibility and allows you to learn in privacy.^[9]
Read. Finding unbiased books about politics may be a little difficult, but not entirely impossible. Scholarly books typically offer a fair point of view from both sides, which you can typically purchase online or at college bookstores.
- You may also be able to check with your area high schools to see if they have any extra books they can spare or you can purchase. Additionally, a few apps are available that keep you updated with current events, and teach you about politics at the same time.
- Look for books that aren’t endorsed or written by members of any specific political party. Educating yourself on the facts of all political sides may help to reduce the amount of political polarization in your life.^[10]
Learn about political parties from the past and in other countries. Learning more about how political parties operate and use propaganda may help you to gain a broader perspective on politics in general and have a more objective viewpoint on your own political system. For example, in some countries, there are multiple parties rather than the two party system in the US. Political parties also change over time.