The Shouting Comes From a Minority

If American politics feels angrier and more divided than the people you know in everyday life, there may be a reason.

A new political typology from the Pew Research Center suggests that the most ideological and politically engaged Americans make up a minority of the public.

Pew’s latest analysis, released in June, groups Americans into nine categories based on their values and political views rather than simply labeling them Republican or Democrat.

Only four of those groups—two on the right and two on the left—are described as deeply ideological and highly engaged in politics. Together, they account for about 38% of Americans.

The other five groups hold a mix of opinions that do not fit neatly into either political camp.

That helps explain why political debate can appear more polarized than the country itself.

The people most committed to one side or the other are also more likely to vote in primaries, donate money, attend political events, post online and closely follow the news. Their voices are easier to hear.

Meanwhile, the larger group in the middle is often less visible.

Party labels can also hide how mixed Americans’ views really are.

According to Pew, about one in seven Republicans hold values that lean left of center, while about one in seven Democrats hold values that lean right.

That means many people do not fit comfortably into the political boxes assigned to them.

The result is a public conversation that can sound much more rigid than the population actually is.

The loudest voices may dominate social media, cable news, campaign events and political arguments.

But they are not the whole country.

In many communities, most people still hold a blend of views, agree with one side on some issues and the other side on others, and are less interested in constant political conflict.

The divide is real.

But the shouting may make it look bigger than it is.