Divided

Abstract The volume Divided: Open-Mindedness and Dogmatism in a Polarized World provides a current scientific understanding of open-mindedness and dogmatism, illuminates the nature and causes of polarization, and provides clues regarding how one might attempt to reduce pernicious forms of polarization. To do so, this volume brings together a diverse group of leading psychologists, political scientists, and communication scholars who investigate dogmatism and open-mindedness within social and political contexts and who provide novel insight into these pressing topics. Chapter authors cover a wide range of topics including key definitions of dogmatism and open-mindedness, the emergence of affective polarization, how open-mindedness relates to attitude formation and change, the correspondence between intellectual humility and open-mindedness, how social norms and situations shape open-minded cognition, authoritarianism among liberals and conservatives, the relation between political conservatism and dogmatic thought, and the role of affect in guiding cognitive processes. Authors consider both the beneficial and more problematic features of open-mindedness, dogmatism, and polarization. Collectively, this volume provides a format that enables readers to learn about creative approaches to understanding dogmatism and open-mindedness and, potentially, to generate innovative solutions that reduce polarization and increase constructive social compromise in the future.