Part 1 of this series suggests that the process of polarised thinking - and language - is subtle and unconscious. It especially permeates societies that are divided by differences in ethnicity, social class, ideology and religion. Part 2 expands on this observation.

The polarised thinker

“Never mind the outside world, we know what to think.”

“It’s not our fault, it’s them to blame.”

From our childhood days, we have always wanted to know who the good guys are, so as to distinguish them from the bad ones. The good guys are rewarded; the bad guys punished.

This neatness and simplicity appeal to the polarised thinker. It provides us with what we need to know, what to agree with, and what we must attack.

It saves us the effort of thinking for ourselves, to be self-reflexive. It enables us to acquire the self-confidence that accrues from following the socially-sanctioned dogma of the times.

We feel safe in the certainty of our opinion, and finality in our judgment of events, issues and people. Polarised thinking, as such, gives no allowance for ambiguity.

What if others differ? No matter. They will learn to see the “truth” sooner or later. We will win in the end because we know it to be true.

As such, the polarised thinker holds a static picture of the world. Any change is merely a shift to the other extreme. The dynamics, however, remain the same.

It’s a world seen through blinders. Polarised communication reinforces one’s beliefs. Anything contrary to our strong beliefs is attacked, ridiculed, rejected or ignored...