Affective Polarization
Affective polarization is the emotional dislike and hostility people feel toward opposing political groups, beyond just disagreeing on policies. It's a visceral reaction where you see opponents as untrustworthy or threatening.
Affective polarization refers to the extent of emotional dislike and hostility people feel toward members of opposing political parties, distinct from disagreement over policy. It manifests as a visceral reaction where individuals perceive opponents as fundamentally untrustworthy or threatening, often without needing new information. This form of polarization is driven by identity and social dynamics rather than ideological debate.
What this means in real life
A parent stops inviting their sibling to family dinners because they support a different political party, not over a specific policy dispute, but because they've come to see them as a bad person for their political identity.
What it isn’t
It is not simply having strong political beliefs or disagreeing on policy. Two people can passionately oppose each other's views on taxes or healthcare without affective polarization—that requires emotional hostility and personal dislike directed at the group itself.
Commonly misused online
Often conflated with 'political polarization' generally, but affective polarization specifically means the emotional/personal animosity, not just ideological distance. People sometimes use it to mean 'people are more divided' without the emotional component.