Which concept describes increasing negative feelings toward opposing parties while increasing positive feelings toward one's own party?

Which concept describes increasing negative feelings toward opposing parties while increasing positive feelings toward one's own party?

• A. Affective Polarization
• B. Partisan Polarization
• C. Ideological Polarization
• D. Behavioral Polarization

Answer: (A)

Affective polarization is about how people feel. It describes the trend where partisans grow warmer toward their own party and cooler toward the other party, driven by emotional attitudes and social identity rather than just policy disagreements. This explains the scenario in the question: increasing negative feelings toward opposing parties while increasing positive feelings toward one's own party. By contrast, ideological polarization centers on differences in beliefs and policy positions, partisan polarization refers to division along party lines in attitudes and priorities, and behavioral polarization focuses on actions and political participation. So the emotional, intergroup hostility and ingroup warmth captured here is best described by affective polarization.

Affective polarization is about how people feel. It describes the trend where partisans grow warmer toward their own party and cooler toward the other party, driven by emotional attitudes and social identity rather than just policy disagreements. This explains the scenario in the question: increasing negative feelings toward opposing parties while increasing positive feelings toward one's own party.

By contrast, ideological polarization centers on differences in beliefs and policy positions, partisan polarization refers to division along party lines in attitudes and priorities, and behavioral polarization focuses on actions and political participation. So the emotional, intergroup hostility and ingroup warmth captured here is best described by affective polarization.