The Seattle Times recently published an article discussing the personal side of electoral politics exploring what happens when families and friends feud over this year’s choice for president—a choice that seems more polarizing than that in previous elections. Staff reporter Jessica Lee interviewed a pair of close friends, a husband and wife as well as a mother and son duo, who all struggle with their opposing viewpoints. She describes their experiences with that struggle and how it is impacting their personal relationships. To provide some scientific context, Lee interviewed UW Political Science Professor Mark A. Smith, who notes that there is an increasing amount of polarization in the current political climate, which can lead to tensions in marriages and other intimate relationships. Based on the patterns of political information consumption today, Smith expects the division to continue if not grow, noting:
It is increasingly easy to isolate yourself from other points of view. If you really want to make sure that you really don’t have any news from other sides of the aisle, you can make that happen.
The article entitled “When politics gets personal: Families, friends feud over Clinton vs. Trump” appeared on September 30, 2016. And if you have a similar experience with close friends or relatives, you can contact Jessica Lee to share your story.