(I Think) I Don’t Think Like You and I Don’t Like You: Perception of Polarization and Out-Group Animosity

Polarization deteriorates social trust and hinders economic development. Interestingly, it has been previously shown that one of the factors driving polarization is the mere perception of polarization. Using data from an original survey done in Thailand in 2021 (N = 2,016), this paper provides an empirical evidence that people with extreme political identity and those who consume media from outlets similar to their political peers tend to exaggerate the degree of polarization in the society. We also show that those exaggerations increase negative feelings toward members of the opposite group.