Behavioral Grooves Podcast

In the final episode of the polarization series, Kurt and Tim delve into "affective polarization," where emotional distrust, rather than ideological differences, has deepened the divide between political parties. Drawing on insights from the recent MIT conference, they explore how these negative feelings have escalated over time. Stanford postdoc Jan Voelkl shares eye-opening research showing a marked decline in positive feelings across party lines over the past few decades. But there's hope on the horizon! Kurt and Tim explore proven interventions aimed at reducing polarization by fostering cooperation and shared identities. Through game-based approaches and collaborative strategies, they demonstrate that cross-party cooperation is not only possible but achievable. Featured researcher Josh Green explains how his game-based method helps bridge the partisan divide, offering an optimistic outlook for improving political discourse. The duo also speaks with Kati Kish Bar-On, a postdoc at MIT, who provides a philo