Reducing Division in America

The political process in the past year underscores the numerous divisions in American society. People are divided along ethnic, racial, religious, economic, and political lines as well as on the basis of gender and sexual orientation. These divisions should be of concern to prevention scientists because they undermine the ability of society to address pressing problems such as poverty, discrimination, and economic inequality and because the prejudice and discrimination that are so often associated with these divisions are significant stressors which contribute directly to psychological and behavioral problems, as well as life-shortening physical illnesses. I will briefly overview significant divisions in American society and their consequences for well-being. I will then present evidence indicating that the major ways in which we are trying to reduce these divisions are almost certainly counterproductive. Next, I will review evidence about effective means of reducing prejudice and increasing respect and cooperation between members of different groups. Finally I will outline the kinds of research the prevention scientists could do that could contribute to the reduction of these very harmful divisions.