Philosophy

Neuroscience

Social psychology

Physical chemistry

Polarization (electrochemistry)

Political philosophy

Psychology

Environmental ethics

Politics

Political science

Rationality

Sociology

Chemistry

Harm

Perception

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

Significance All Americans are affected by rising political polarization, whether because of a gridlocked Congress or antagonistic holiday dinners. People believe that facts are essential for earning the respect of political adversaries, but our research shows that this belief is wrong. We find that sharing personal experiences about a political issue—especially experiences involving harm—help to foster respect via increased perceptions of rationality. This research provides a straightforward pathway for increasing moral understanding and decreasing political intolerance. These findings also raise questions about how science and society should understand the nature of truth in the era of “fake news.” In moral and political disagreements, everyday people treat subjective experiences as truer than objective facts.

Personal experiences bridge moral and political divides better than facts