Why have political double standards gotten worse? - The Washington Post
washingtonpost.com
Americans increasingly excuse in their own party what they condemn in the other — and conspiracy theories may be accelerating that split.
In-Group BiasMotivated ReasoningBelief PerseveranceSocial Identity Theory
Theory Briefing
- Political double standards are worsening in the U.S., with partisans applying sharply different rules to the same behavior depending on who commits it.
- Conspiracy theories are identified as a key force driving Americans further apart, beyond ordinary partisan bias.
- The piece frames the divide not just as tribalism but as a deepening asymmetry in how each side judges political conduct.