Events

Politically polarized brains share an intolerance of uncertainty. This short video succinctly describes the research on polarization and intolerance of uncertainty.

Ram Dass provides a Buddhist perspective on polarization, fear, and anxiety.

“You begin to look at human beings as having dark karma at times, very heavy stuff that they're carrying with them that makes them project into the world in a way that creates immense suffering for other people.

And there is a point in your being where you feel this incredible compassion for the horror of that predicament for that being. The minute you identify them with the acts that are creating the suffering, you lock them into continuing to be who they are with your mind. So the art is to see actions as evil, but not beings." - Ram Dass 

Ezra Klein doesn’t believe America’s political system is broken. He argues that the truth is scarier: It’s working exactly as designed. Over the past 50 years, our partisan identities have merged with our racial, religious, geographic, ideological and cultural identities. According to Klein, this merging has created a toxic system that is tearing at the bonds that hold this country together. 

In his new book, Why We’re Polarized, Klein shows how and why American politics polarized around identity in the 20th century and what that polarization did to the way we see the world and each other. The book provides a clear framework for understanding everything from Trump’s rise to the Democratic Party’s leftward shift to the politicization of everyday culture. 

Dr. Stuart Shanker discusses the concept of polarization and describes how societies around the world are seemingly becoming more polarized and how this is being utilized for political gain by promoting fear and anger. 

Can Economic Growth reduce Social anxiety and political polarization?