“A simplified way to think of toxic polarization is as a feedback loop of animosity. One group’s animosity creates more animosity in the other group, which in turn creates more animosity in the first group, and so on. As more and more insults and threats are produced, both groups view the other group as more immoral and dangerous, which makes more people speak in contemptuous and insulting ways. As each group’s views of the “other side” get more and more pessimistic, contempt and fear grow.”