The surprising psychology behind extremism, and how politics is driving it

Psychologists usually expect ambivalence to be a driver of
political apathy. But a new study appears to show a link between
ambivalence in our views and the likelihood that we’ll support
extremist actions. Madeleine Finlay speaks to the study’s co-author
Richard Petty, professor of psychology at Ohio State University, to
find out what pushes people to take extreme actions, how politics
could be driving this behaviour and how it could be combated. Help
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