Healing the divide: From black‐and‐white to a new color

Abstract

In this study, the authors identify and describe factors that have contributed to an acrimonious political divide in the United States. Informed by a developmental perspective, the authors first establish the universal motive for group belonging. Next, they describe how group forces have organized citizens into hostile groups built around these variables: expansion of technology, global warming, rising immigration, cultish leader/follower dynamics, religion, national attitudes toward the pandemic, and characteristics of the national leader. The authors propose several solutions to the current divide, including the elevation of the school to the pinnacle of the civic public square.