Bridging the Divide: How Loose Social Ties Can Heal Political Polarization
Discover how 'bridge ties' - weak connections across social boundaries - can help restore the connective tissue and overcome political division, according to social scientist Eva M Meyersson Milgrom.
In a world increasingly divided along political lines, a surprising solution may lie in the power of loose social ties - or what researchers call 'bridge ties.' These weak connections that cross the boundaries normally structuring our lives can play a crucial role in healing political division, according to social scientist Eva M Meyersson Milgrom.
Meyersson Milgrom, a professor emerita at Stanford University, has long studied the importance of diversifying our social networks. Her research suggests that these bridge ties, though often overlooked, can be the connective tissue that bridges the gaps between disparate groups and ideologies.
To illustrate this concept, Meyersson Milgrom shares the story of a woman she calls 'Shoshana.' During a visit to Brandi Carlile's music festival, Shoshana, who had just experienced another unsuccessful round of IVF, found herself overcome with emotion in the middle of the crowd. {{IMAGE_PLACEHOLDER}} As she began to cry, two women she had never met before stepped closer and wordlessly wrapped their arms around her until her breathing slowed.
Source: The Guardian
