Partisan identity drives social polarization more than race or religion, study finds

 A new study published in Political Psychology has found that partisan identity significantly outweighs other social factors, including race, religion, and social class, in driving social polarization in America. Dislike for opposing political groups appears more powerful than loyalty to one’s own party.

Political polarization in the United States continues to intensify beyond policy disagreements, seeping into everyday social interactions. Americans increasingly avoid or express hostility toward members of the opposing political party, affecting friendships, workplace relationships, and even family connections.

Researchers Julie M. Norman and Beniamino Green investigated whether this polarization stems primarily from political affiliation or whether other overlapping social identities might play equally important roles. Their study also examined whether individuals with “cross-cutting” identities—those who don’t fit typical partisan stereotypes—experience reduced polarization.

The researchers conducted a conjoint survey experiment with 1,330 participants, presenting them with pairs of hypothetical individuals described by various characteristics: political party, ideology, race, religion, income, and education level. Participants evaluated these profiles and indicated their social preferences—whom they would choose as a friend, neighbor, or family member.

By measuring both attitudes and projected interpersonal choices, the study distinguished between abstract partisan dislike and actual willingness to exclude others based on political identity.

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The results clearly demonstrated that partisan identity outweighs all other social factors in shaping Americans’ attitudes toward others. Political party affiliation emerged as the strongest predictor of both in-group favoritism and out-group bias.

While both Democrats and Republicans preferred their own groups, the data revealed that out-group hostility was more intense than in-group loyalty. Americans appear more motivated by whom they dislike than whom they support. Democrats displayed particularly strong negative feelings toward Republicans compared to the reverse.

Contrary to expectations, having “cross-cutting” identities (such as being a conservative Democrat or a liberal Christian) did not reduce polarization. People with unexpected identity combinations weren’t treated more favorably, nor were they less likely to exhibit bias themselves.

Though less influential than politics, race and religion shaped social biases. Democrats generally viewed Black individuals more favorably than Republicans did, while Republicans showed less favorable attitudes toward non-Christians, particularly atheists and Muslims.

The authors acknowledge that while their study captures attitudes and preferences, it does not measure real-world interactions. Future research could explore whether these political biases manifest in actual behavior out in the world.

This research highlights political identity’s powerful role in shaping American social relationships. Even as the country grows more diverse, party affiliation remains the strongest dividing line.

However, the study suggests that in everyday social interactions, political hostility may be less pronounced than in abstract attitudes, potentially creating opportunities for community bridge-building.

The research, “Why Can’t We Be Friends? Untangling Conjoined Polarization in America,” was authored by Julie M. Norman and Beniamino Green.