by Megan Sy, M.A., M.S.
As election season continues to ramp up, I often find myself disheartened by the increasing level of hostility across media platforms. To an extent, debates and disagreements are natural. After all, there are two major political parties for a reason. But why does it seem to get worse every election?
The lesser minds problem, coined by psychologist Adam Waytz and his colleagues, refers to the essentially human tendency to view others’ minds as different from our own. Specifically, the minds we attribute to others are less sophisticated and less intense than the minds we attribute to ourselves. Thus, we easily believe that other people’s minds are less capable of conscious deliberation and in-depth thinking and more susceptible to errors and poor decision making. This is intensified particularly when we encounter others whose views are vastly different from our own. It also guides how we behave towards them and makes us less likely to prioritize civility or pursue compromise.
By the way, the seeming increase in vitriol and animosity is not imagined. A recent Pew survey revealed that Americans are more divided than ever in terms of political ideology. And it goes beyond just dislike and disagreement. In the past decade, views of the opposing party have become more negative and their policies are more likely to be seen as a personal attack.
So is civil political discourse even possible? If thinking that other people are idiots is our natural tendency, how do we overcome it? There is no easy answer. Waytz writes, “Step one is to recognize that it is a universal affliction, one that stems not from irrational hatred or stupidity, but rather from basic human tendencies.” I would argue that step two is to challenge these gut reactions and thoughts. From an REBT perspective, partisan politics is accompanied by increasingly rigid demands (“She should agree with me, if she knows what’s good for the country”) and other-downing (“This guy is a complete idiot for supporting Candidate X”). By logically disputing these thoughts and developing more flexible alternatives, we might be able create the space to have healthy and civil discussions. Maybe then we can have an election season that is not mired in insults and violence.
