Opinion polarization is often considered as the primary driver of social friction, leading to exhaustive efforts to force a consensus. However, new research suggests a more pragmatic goal: reducing the friction of disagreement without necessarily eliminating the diversity of opinion.
Living together with differences: Mathematical model shows how to reduce social friction without forcing consensus
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When the United States recently escalated its confrontation with Venezuela—carrying out strikes in Caracas and capturing President Nicolás Maduro—the moves were framed as political intervention.This post was originally published on this site
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Most people assume that when an election comes down to two main parties, the logic of voting is straightforward: weigh up the options and choose the least bad one.This post was originally published on this [...]
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Researchers at TU Wien are developing a model that interprets opinions not as diametrically opposed poles, but as overlapping areas at the group level.This post was originally published on this site
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Eileen Higgins won a historic victory in December. She became the first woman ever elected mayor of Miami, as well as its first Democratic mayor since 1997.This post was originally published on this site
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Mass shootings in white-majority neighborhoods received roughly twice the news coverage of mass shootings in neighborhoods where a majority of residents were people of color, while coverage of police-involved shootings was disproportionately high in majority-minority [...]
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When a protest by angry traders about what they see as the Islamic Republic’s poor handling of the economy morphed into a national uprising across Iran, the authorities moved quickly to shut down the internet. [...]
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Once the world’s most populous nation, China is now among the many Asian countries struggling with anemic fertility rates. In an attempt to double the country’s rate of 1.0 children per woman, Beijing is reaching [...]
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Oceans shape everyday life in powerful ways. They cover 70% of the planet, carry 90% of global trade, and support millions of jobs and the diets of billions of people. As global competition intensifies and [...]
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Researchers at The University of Manchester are calling for stronger, coordinated partnerships to tackle modern slavery and human trafficking, warning that gaps between organizations risk leaving victims and survivors without consistent protection and support.This post [...]
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As global officials confirm that 2025 was Earth’s third-hottest year on record, a new poll shows Americans are sharply divided over the role of science in the United States.This post was originally published on this [...]
