Good Reasonable People: The Psychology Behind America’s Dangerous Divide

Watch a thought-provoking book talk with Keith Payne, professor of psychology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and an internationally recognized expert in the psychology of inequality and discrimination. Drawing from his own research and personal experiences growing up in small-town Kentucky, Payne’s latest work delves into the psychological roots of political polarization and how it affects us on a personal level—as individuals, families, and communities. He argues that our divisions stem from a near-universal tendency to view those with different beliefs as irrational, revealing how this mindset frays personal bonds and disrupts constructive dialogue. In this session, Payne will share insights on how understanding the psychology of our political divide can provide tools to approach political debates more effectively, handle misinformation, and separate political principles from personal relationships to foster mutual understanding. This event was presented by the Behavioral Insights Student Group (BISG).