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The Vicious Cycle Of Mass Polarization And Fear: A Pilot Program Using Comedy And Dialogue To Leverage Political Polarities, Zoë A. Hayman

M.A. in Leadership Studies: Capstone Project Papers

United States polarization has shifted from simple Congressional stalemate to a state of political warfare. While there is debate in the literature as to whether this attitude polarization is mirrored among the general public, the research is clear that American perceptions of their political opposition is marked by fear and animosity (Pew Research Center, 2016). The Impolitic program aims to intervene in this cycle using comedy to reduce anxiety and encourage participation, and dialogue to build understanding and shift relationships among politically divergent participants. This paper details the system of polarization in which Impolitic seeks to intervene, the guiding leadership …