4 Problems with Depolarization Efforts (and how to remedy them)

There are many sincere and well-intentioned movements to depolarize America such as Braver Angels, Living Room Conversations, and Crossing Party Lines (amongst others). These groups hold workshops and dialogue events to bring people of diverging political beliefs together to listen and learn from each other, with the hope of finding common ground and humanizing the “other side.” Skillful communication techniques to navigate political disagreement are emphasized, while virtues like civility, open-mindedness, and intellectual humility are valorized. All good stuff.

But in my time with these communities, I have noticed several limitations with these approaches that can prevent depolarization from scaling nationwide. The 4 (overlapping) issues I’ve identified are self-selection bias, implicit centrist bias, compartmentalization, and lack of creativity.

1. Self-selection bias

Self-selection bias occurs when people voluntarily partake in a group, which selects for certain types of individuals while selecting out others. Every community is self-selecting to varying degrees, as like-minded people cluster together while those of diverging views have no interest or incentive to get involved. Cat lover groups select for cat lovers, while goat lovers like me wouldn’t participate.