Political polarization as a co-adaptive process.

Political polarization is often characterized as a consequence of changes in media content or technology. We argue, in contrast, for an account that views polarization in media and the public as a co-adaptive process. This paper begins with a brief review of cultural evolution and co-adaptation and...

Descripción completa

Detalles Bibliográficos
Publicado en:Journal of Communication Vol. 76; no. 3; pp. 211 - 223
Autores principales: Soroka, Stuart, Kernell, Georgia, Lamberson, P J
Formato: Artículo
Publicado: Oxford University Press / USA Jun2026
Materias:
Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
fields @attributes:
  recordID: 1
pdfLink:
plink: https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ssf&AN=194431764&site=ehost-live
header:
  @attributes:
    shortDbName: ssf
    uiTerm: 194431764
    longDbName: Social Sciences Full Text (H.W. Wilson)
    uiTag: AN
  controlInfo:
    bkinfo:
    jinfo:
      jid:
        00219916
        JCO
      jtl: Journal of Communication
      issn: 00219916
      maglogo: N
    pubinfo:
      dt: Jun2026
      vid: 76
      iid: 3
      pid: 622
      pub: Oxford University Press / USA
    artinfo:
      ui:
        194431764
        10.1093/joc/jqag001
      ppf: 211
      ppct: 12
      formats:
      tig:
        atl: Political polarization as a co-adaptive process.
      aug:
        au:
          Soroka, Stuart
          Kernell, Georgia
          Lamberson, P J
        affil:
          Departments of Communication and Political Science, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, United States
          Department of Communication, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, United States
      su:
        Polarization (Social sciences)
        Social groups
        Social influence
        Social processes
        Adaptability (Personality)
        Ingroups (Social groups)
        Media effects theory (Communication)
      sug:
        subj:
          Polarization (Social sciences)
          Social groups
          Social influence
          Social processes
          Adaptability (Personality)
          Ingroups (Social groups)
          Media effects theory (Communication)
      keyword:
        co-adaptation
        copyrightHolder:International Communication Association
        copyrightYear:2026
        formal models
        inLanguage:en
        media
        polarization
        publisher:Oxford University Press
        sameAs:https://dx.doi.org/10.1093/joc/jqag001
        technology
        co-adaptation
        copyrightHolder:International Communication Association
        copyrightYear:2026
        formal models
        inLanguage:en
        media
        polarization
        publisher:Oxford University Press
        sameAs:https://dx.doi.org/10.1093/joc/jqag001
        technology
      ab: Political polarization is often characterized as a consequence of changes in media content or technology. We argue, in contrast, for an account that views polarization in media and the public as a co-adaptive process. This paper begins with a brief review of cultural evolution and co-adaptation and then considers the application of similar ideas to changes in media and the public over time. Using formal models, we suggest that—in combination with the human tendency toward in-group bias—a co-adaptive (rather than unidirectional) relationship can best account for real-world dynamics. We consider the implications of these findings for our understanding of media effects and technological innovation in polarization, representative democracy, and mass-mediated communication more broadly.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype: Article
      src: R
    language: English
    refInfo:
    copyright:
      @attributes:
        flag: N
    holdings:
      @attributes:
        islocal: N