Polarised: I’m Right, You’re Wrong … and You’re Ugly

Polarisation: division into two sharply distinct opposites, especially : a state in which the opinions, beliefs, or interests of a group or society no longer range along a continuum but become concentrated at opposing extremes (Merriam-Webster).

It feels good to be right, especially when the other side is clearly and obviously wrong. Until, of course, you discover they feel exactly the same way about you.

Welcome to polarisation: the social magnetic force that somehow manages to pull us together and rip us apart at the same time.
From playground squabbles to political campaigns, humans divide into “us” and “them.” Whether stakes are large (eg. pop star beefs), or they’re wee issues (eg. freedom, justice and climate survival), our tribal instincts flare up fast. Is this just "human nature," or have we built a world designed to divide us?

In this session, we’ll try to understand polarisation, and perhaps find a few answers we can all disagree on.

Questions
Clarifying Polarisation
1. Some issues, like religion or values, polarise faster than others. What makes certain topics create division while others don’t?
2. At what moment does “you’re wrong” become “you’re dangerous”? What pushes disagreement across that line?
3. If polarisation can affect anything, does this mean truth, justice and fairness will risk being secondary to loyalty? Is it possible to separate an idea from identity?

Value from being polarised
4. If polarisation is not a great outcome, why do we do it? What benefit is gained by an individual from taking a polarised position?
5. Do our political, media, or economic systems contain incentives that reward polarisation? If so, what does that tell us about what is valued in those systems?

Source vs Amplifiers
6. If we removed today’s media and platforms, would we still polarise just as much, or would most of the division disappear?
7. To what extent does our 'role' (e.g., a lawyer, a policeman, a party member) force us to polarize? Is 'doing my job' a valid excuse for deepening division?
8. Is polarisation the real problem, or is it a symptom of deeper frustrations? (eg. inequality, insecurity, loss of control)
Maybe not quite what we think
9. Studies suggest we consistently overestimate how extreme the "other side" is. What drives this perception gap?
10. Can polarisation actually be good for us?

Depolarising?
11. What individual or systemic changes can be made to reduce polarisation? How realistic are these changes?
12. If polarisation is part of being human, what responsibility do we each carry in shaping how it plays out?

References:
The Robbers Cave Experiment
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Realistic_conflict_theory?#Robbers_Cave_study
Vid: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PRuxMprSDQ

What is Polarization (Wikipedia)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_polarization

The science behind ‘us vs. them’ | Dan Shapiro, Robert Sapolsky & more
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14XSzWT4vI0

Jonathan Haidt: How common threats can make common (political) ground
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3o-F94S4FI

Tajfel’s Minimal Group Paradigm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minimal_group_paradigm