How does polarization play out in societies, countries, and different periods?

• What need(s) does it meet? dissent, to belong, safety in groups, belief systems, right vs wrong, fear, misinformation
• Social Theories - Democracy vs Fascism/Autocracies
• Examples: First Amendment, Campus protests about Gaza/Israel, Historical Protests such as the Civil War, etc.)

Group Polarization: Theories and Examples

https://www.verywellmind.com/group-polarization-theories-and-examples-7547335

Group polarization is a psychological phenomenon in where beliefs, attitudes, and decisions in groups are more amplified and extreme than those held by individual group members. Group polarization happens when a choice shift intensifies that initial attitude. Adopting the views of the group helps people feel positive about themselves. They may feel compelled to shift their ideas to identify with the group to achieve a sense of belonging.

Understanding these factors is crucial for mitigating polarization and promoting more constructive and inclusive dialogues within societies.

"Do I contradict myself?
Very well then, I contradict myself,
I am large, I contain multitudes…"
—Walt Whitman

Increased Polarization
https://news.vanderbilt.edu/2024/02/14/latest-vanderbilt-unity-index-shows-the-u-s-continuing-its-trend-toward-increased-political-polarization/

Historically, polarization often starts with a combination of social, economic, political, and cultural changes that challenge existing structures and identities. When groups form around particular beliefs in opposition, polarization can become entrenched, influencing everything from personal relationships to international politics.

Examples in Other Cultures & Times

Democracies encourage free speech. We mention the First Amendment, the campus protests, and democracies vs autocracies. Some examples of different times include the French Revolution, Tianon Square, and how the American Revolution against the British.

Protests in the US: the Women's Suffrage movement, campus protests about Vietnam including Kent State. Currently: Black Lives Matter and protests around women's rights.

Affective Polarization

https://www.brown.edu/news/2020-01-21/polarization

A phenomenon in which citizens feel more negatively toward other political parties than toward their own. In the U.S., affective polarization has increased more dramatically since the late 1970s than in the eight other countries they examined — the U.K., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Switzerland, Norway, and Sweden.

Polarization: Navigating the Divides in Today’s Society

https://lambdageeks.com/polarization/

Polarization can lead to increased hostility and a breakdown of communication between different groups. It can result in the formation of echo chambers and misinformation. Understanding polarization is crucial for promoting dialogue, empathy, and finding common ground.

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Unity can empower societies to achieve collective goals and face common threats while polarization can lead to significant strife and conflict, but also to societal change by highlighting critical issues that need addressing.

Ideally, a healthy society balances a degree of both elements. Encouraging diversity of opinion (mild polarization)

About Evan Whitehead

Evan Whitehead is the Executive Director of Private Therapeutic Day Schools that focus on working with students with Autism, Intellectual Disabilities, and Severe Learning Disabilities. He’s also a national consultant, trainer, and presenter with Dr. Ruby K. Payne’s Aha! Process, Inc., provides local and national training, presentations, and speaking engagements. Evan is also a certified mindset and accountability coach.

Throughout his 20+ career, Evan has served as a special education paraprofessional and teacher, Latino parent outreach coordinator, dean of student discipline, community outreach coordinator, Director of Title 1, Special Services, Bilingual Education and ELLs, and Assistant Superintendent. He is also a passionate mental health advocate, mindfulness practitioner, and proponent of equity, diversity, and intercultural competency.

Evan's 3Bs, Balance, Boundaries, and Breaks, promote a lifestyle of self-advocacy in the areas of mental health, mindset, self-care, and well-being. Evan’s 3Bs made it to the mainstream and pop culture in 2022 when platinum-selling recording artist, actress, and Entrepreneur Saweetie adopted and implemented them into her life. Saweetie has shared the 3Bs wisdom with other celebrities and entertainers such as Mary J. Blige, Oprah Winfrey, and Kelly Rowland.

How to reach Evan
Bio at https://www.ahaprocess.com/consultants/evan-whitehead/
Twitter (X): @evanwhitehead00 #BalanceBoundariesandBreaks


Topic and Question for this episode:
Does everyone have the privilege of being authentic?

Questions we discussed with Evan:

1. How does privilege affect authenticity?
2. In what spaces or situations do you feel that authenticity is a privilege?
3. We generally think of authenticity as a form of freedom of speech but how does authenticity and privilege relate to other areas of self-expression? (i.e. The CROWN Act)
4. Do you think that anyone has the privilege of authenticity in reality? (Marx quote)
5. Even once we’ve identified that privilege exists and is consequential, the question remains as to what we should do. (Unearned Privilege: Psychology Today)
6. What will it take to be ready to challenge our blind spots and embrace discomfort? (Privilege Awareness and Authentic Allyship)
7. How can society or people in their interactions mitigate this issue and create more equity around authenticity?

Some of the resources we mentioned in the podcast:

“Authenticity & Privilege”
http://freedavid.co/posts/authenticity-and-privilege.html

The CROWN (Create a Respectful and Open Workplace for Natural Hair) Act (SB 188) https://www.wikiwand.com/en/CROWN_Act_(California)

Privilege Awareness and Authentic Allyship: A Journey to Equity
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/privilege-awareness-authentic-allyship-journey-equity-cheraine-ncube/

Unearned Advantage: What to Make of Privilege?
“Anyone can be ‘privileged’ if it suits someone else’s argument.”
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/insight-therapy/202007/unearned-advantage-what-make-privilege

We invited Hedreich Nichols to join us on Real Talk to have a conversation about authenticity around bias. She is an author, educator, and consultant who helps educators and districts amplify the voices of all students. Hedreich’s YouTube series and podcast, SmallBites, focuses on equity and helping educators to create more culturally responsive learning environments.

Hedreich is the author of several books: “What is Antiracism?”, “What is the Black Lives Matter Movement?” and more to help students understand systemic inequities. Her Solution Tree title, Finding Your Blindspots, provides educators with guiding principles to help them create more inclusive, welcoming campuses for all students.

A few of the questions we asked Hedreich:

1. What does authenticity mean to you?
2. Referring to Finding Your Blind Spots. How do we become aware of our bias(es)?
3. What do we do if we’re struggling with our own biases?
4. How do the words that we choose and speak to each other reinforce bias?
5. How do we navigate and deal with microaggressions in those conversations?
6. How can we be intentionally inclusive even with people we don’t agree with?
7. Let’s go back to your book, Finding Your Blind Spots. You ask readers to reflect on what strategies can be easily implemented to help you respond more empathetically when you encounter a trigger.

Some Gems Hedreich shared:
“Allow others to be where they are.”
“Don’t judge others’ journeys.”
“Be action oriented…put the energy into coming to a consensus.”
“Who are our ‘thems’ and who are our ‘others’ and why?”
“Bias is a natural outgrowth for safety.”
“Who are your others? Start there.”

How to reach Hedreich
Website: https://hedreich.com
Twitter (X): @hedreich
Instagram: @hedreichnichols
Facebook: Hedreich Nichols
LinkedIn: Hedreich Nichols