Liberals And Conservatives Are Equally Close-Minded Towards Opposing Groups. Why?

The liberal-minded people like to pride themselves (or should I say "ourselves"?) on their open-mindedness. This is what distinguishes them from the conservatives, who view it with a certain skepticism. They are there to embrace diversity — until it comes to the views of the opposing tribe.

The reason for this, according to the psychologists quoted in the article, is that the initial commitment to open-mindedness clashes with a much deeper-rooted unacceptance of those who are different from us. Both conservatives and liberals are equally prejudiced against the social groups that they see as threatening to their values. Interestingly, in both cases, the feelings of prejudice are mitigated: in the case of liberals, by their espousal of universalism, and in the case of conservatives, belief in self-determination. Finally, education did not make a person inherently more tolerant to conflicting beliefs — it only taught them to conceal it more efficiently.

In the time of growing polarization, I believe, it is important to see the human side in the opposing camp. It is all too easy to dismiss the opposite side as simply twisted and inhuman.