Final answer:
The divisiveness in politics stems from a combination of emotional commitment to political identities, increasing political polarization, and influence of political cultures that people inherit from their community. These factors lead to increased group cohesion and inter-group suspicion, intensifying societal divisions over political issues.
Step-by-step explanation:
Individuals often become divisive over politics due to a variety of complex factors. A key reason is that political affiliations are deeply interwoven with an individual's identity and values, which leads to a strong emotional commitment. This commitment can hinder objective evaluation of opposing political views, causing people with a strong allegiance to one political party to struggle in evaluating opposing political positions objectively.
Political polarization is another contributing factor. It results in increased internal cohesion within political groups while simultaneously increasing suspicion and distrust between them. Over the past decades, the U.S. has become more polarized, making it more challenging for elected officials to accomplish policy goals and deepening societal divisions.
Cultural and symbolic issues, not just the distribution of material resources, often fuel intense political debates. The influence of political culture is significant, as many individuals inherit their political views from their family and community, contributing to long-standing regional political orientations. Additionally, intense political campaigns and narratives can exacerbate divisions among the populace, sometimes intentionally to strengthen a politician's support base.