The psychology of political polarization

Political polarization can manifest itself in various ways, including political extremism, populism, and ideological conflict over specific societal issues. This introductory chapter proposes two reasons to study political polarization. First, political polarization is a complex phenomenon that cannot be traced back to a single cause, and that is insufficiently understood by scientists, policy makers, and the general public. Second, political polarization is a problem for societies, as it stimulates overconfidence, intolerance, and – through the process of motivated reasoning – irrational beliefs. The chapter ends by introducing the various chapters of the book.