Divisivs

Divisivs describes the process by which political, cultural, or ideological differences become more salient and mutually exclusive among members of a society. It emphasizes the persistence of group boundaries and the perception that opposing camps are fundamentally incompatible. The term is not a formal theory but a descriptor used in political science and media studies to summarize trends in polarization and online discourse. It is often associated with shifts in information environments, where digital platforms and algorithmic curation amplify exposure to like-minded views and reduce cross-cutting conversation.

Key drivers include media fragmentation, selective exposure, algorithmic amplification, and identity-based mobilization. Recommender systems tend to feed users content that reinforces existing beliefs, while partisan or sensational content can raise the perceived stakes of disagreements. Geographic sorting, differences in media literacy, and political leadership rhetoric also shape how Divisivs manifests in different contexts.

Implications and assessment: Divisivs has been linked to governance challenges, reduced cross-partisan cooperation, and struggles in informing policy. Researchers measure it with polarization indices, cross-party collaboration metrics, and surveys of trust; meanwhile critics argue that the term can be vague and that technology is only one of several drivers.

See also: polarization, echo chamber, filter bubble, political communication.