Remaking the Culture of American Politics

"People take "invisible" social and psychological dynamics for granted, making culture change hard. Using the Culture Cycle, you can determine a shared starting point and blueprint for change. With the tool, you can map key features of the culture and identify trouble spots and misalignments. Since culture is a reinforcing cycle, change can spark positive feedback loops."

"American political culture is broken. Acts of political violence, like the recent killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk and its aftermath, are disturbing indicators of how fractured and dysfunctional American politics is today. Across the political spectrum, people want change. According to Pew, 76% of Americans say that the political system needs either "complete reform" or "major changes." While multiple social and psychological forces are fueling the current crisis-from heightened inequality, social isolation, and institutional mistrust"

"Americans, however, are deeply divided by their dislike and distrust of those with opposing political and social views (rather than disagreements over governance and policy). Half of the electorate believes that those on the "other side" are "downright evil," and 8 in 10 Americans say Democrats and Republicans can't even agree about basic facts. Where do we go from here?"

American political culture is deeply fractured, evidenced by political violence and widespread demand for systemic overhaul, with 76% of Americans favoring complete reform or major changes. Multiple social and psychological forces contribute to the crisis, including heightened inequality, social isolation, institutional mistrust, information siloes, and misinformation. Polarization is driven by moral contempt and distrust, not just policy disagreements, with many viewing opponents as morally wrong and disputing basic facts. The Culture Cycle provides a practical blueprint to map Ideas, Institutions, Interactions, and Incentives, identify misalignments, and create shared starting points so targeted interventions can produce reinforcing positive feedback loops.

Read at Psychology Today