Overview
I am a second-year Ph.D. student in Cornell University's Department of Government, studying American Politics. My research focuses on the psychology of partisanship and political polarization in the United States. I examine how party identity forms, how it shapes what people pay attention to and believe, and when partisan identities turn disagreement into hostility toward the other party. My research uses surveys and experiments to map clear links between identity and behavior, including selective acceptance of information, strong emotional reactions, and loyalty to party leaders. My research also seeks to identify practical ways to reduce animosity across party lines while leaving people’s policy views unchanged.