Project Divided is working to bring people of different political views and backgrounds to the table to have difficult conversations about politics.
Why start conversations?
Lack of communication stands in the way of better future for everyone
One of the side-effects of our hyper-polarized political environment is feeling like we can’t make an impact in our own communities. After all, politics can feel really overwhelming when what we see at the national level and on Facebook is unproductive. But with all of the important issues that (especially youth) need to address, inaction is not an option.
We don’t believe in watering the conversation down, but rather in starting it! Bringing people of different political views and backgrounds to the table to talk is the first step towards problem solving around some of the most pressing issues of our time.
In fact, we believe that most Americans agree on a few things. We believe that at the end of the day, most people want to engage in meaningful work with dignity, and a safe & secure environment for their community and family. Considering more than half of Americans don’t feel represented by either major political party (and even believe a third political party is needed)— we think it’s time to change the narrative and focus on what people actually care about!
The Research that backs us up!
The contact effect
The Contact Effect argues that positive interactions can reduce animosity and contempt between opposing groups. In today’s day and age, Republicans and Democrats are more isolated than ever. By creating positive interactions between different groups, ProjectDivided bases the importance of conversations on this tenet of social psychology.
the dangers of groupthink
Groupthink is the practice of thinking or making decisions as a homogenous group in a way that discourages creativity and individual responsibility. When we only engage with opinions and views that are similar to our own, it is easy to disregard or discredit opinions that do not match our views and to become blind to the flaws in our own arguments. However, discussion and deliberation are important to not only refine our ideas, but also ensure that we are not missing part of the picture.
political “shadow boxing”
Research has found that both liberals and conservatives, when asked to describe the political views of the typical liberal or conservative, usually give estimates that are more extreme than the actual views held by these groups, leading to a ‘political shadow boxing’. In other words, an argument between the perceived stereotypes of each group rather than the actual views of those who disagree with us. Here at ProjectDivided we are working to replace these assumptions with open and honest dialogue.
Exposure and Deliberation Research
Studies of focus group conversations with people from across the political divide have shown that deliberation and exposure to different viewpoints reduced polarization, and that individuals from opposing views were able to find common ground under a set of shared core values. The findings of these studies will be incorporated into ProjectDivided’s methods to show the power that conversation and deliberation have to reduce polarization--especially when discussing specific policies.