Can Empathic Concern Actually Increase Political Polarization?

One recent survey found that among those who are highly engaged in politics, 70 percent of Democrats and 62 percent of Republicans say they are "afraid" of the other party, and a near majority of Democrats and Republicans report being angry with the opposing party and see the opposing party as a threat to the nation's well-being. In one condition, the speaker criticized Democrats and was protested by the college Democrats; in the other condition, the speaker criticized Republicans and was protested by the college Republicans. For one, Elizabeth Simas and her colleagues did find a big upside to empathic concern: Whereas empathic concern increased dislike of the out-party, it increased comfort with out-party contact. [Extracted from the article]