Affective Polarization or Partisan Disdain?

Opposition to marriage between people of the same party increases when they are informed that the person in question frequently discusses politics.

“Del mismo modo, la oposición al matrimonio entre personas del mismo partido aumenta cuando se les informa que la persona en cuestión discute frecuentemente sobre política.”

For Klar, Krupnikov and Ryan (2018), social distance measures are not clean measures of affective polarization because they could imply both partisan animosity and mere aversion to politics in general.

“Para Klar, Krupnikov y Ryan (2018), las medidas de distancia social no resultan medidas limpias de polarización afectiva, ya que podrían implicar tanto animosidad partidaria como una mera aversión a la política en general.”

Klar, Krupnikov and Ryan (2018) found that when respondents are told before the question that the potential spouse lacks political motivation, their dissatisfaction falls notably.

“De hecho, Klar, Krupnikov y Ryan (2018) encontraron que cuando a los encuestados se les dice antes de la pregunta que el posible cónyuge posee falta de motivación política, su insatisfacción cae notoriamente.”

When people are asked about their child marrying someone from the opposing party, they assume that partisanship is a salient part of that person's identity.

“When people are asked about their child marrying someone from the opposing party, they assume that partisanship is a salient part of that person's identity.”

When respondents are told prior to the question that the potential spouse is largely apolitical, their opposition falls sharply.

“When respondents are told prior to the question that the potential spouse is largely apolitical, their opposition falls sharply.”

Their opposition to same-party marriage rises when they are told the person frequently discusses politics.

“Similarly, their opposition to same-party marriage rises when they are told the person frequently discusses politics.”

Social distance measures conflate partisan animus and a dislike of politics.

“However, Klar et al. (2018) show that social distance measures conflate partisan animus and a dislike of politics:”

The critique by Klar et al. (2018) could not explain why these social distance measures have changed over time, unless the desire for political agreement has increased.

“However, the critique by Klar et al. (2018) could not explain why these social distance measures have changed over time, unless the desire for political agreement has increased.”

People may not necessarily hold negative attitudes towards out-party members in particular, but rather towards any person or group that is highly partisan.

“(It may be that people do not necessarily hold negative attitudes towards out-party members in particular, but rather towards any person or group that is highly partisan54.)”