In fact, “tribalism stripped to its essence” seems to describe all segments of American politics in the Trump era.

Kahneman emphasizes that often we engage System 2 not to make a decision but instead to rationalize a conclusion reached by System 1.

For example, some people are inclined to think in big-picture terms, whereas others are inclined to think in details.

As Adam Smith pointed out, we have a desire for high self-regard. In part, we want to be recognized by others as being admirable. Moreover, each of us has what Smith called an “impartial spectator,” or conscience, which makes us feel happier when we believe that we are acting in a way that others will regard highly.

The populist-nationalist movement

In contrast, we resent dominance, in which powerful individuals attempt to rule over others using intimidation.

I encourage readers to adopt slow political thinking, which means seeing an issue from a number of angles rather than along just one axis.

each of us can reason more constructively and deliberate more effectively across political tribes if we recognize that we tend to be overly attuned to our preferred language.

Communicating using the preferred axis of the tribe is good for reassuring others of one’s loyalty to the tribe, for lifting a person’s status in the tribe by pleasing those who agree with him or her, and for whipping up hostility against other tribes. What political language is not good for is persuading people outside one’s tribe or improving