Why We Misjudge Support for Political Violence

Imagine a college rally where a controversial speaker is shut down by angry protesters. In the scuffle, someone in the audience gets hit with a sign. If you heard this story, how would you react? Would you condemn the protesters for trampling free speech, or applaud them for silencing hate? Would you feel sympathy for the injured attendee, or dismiss their pain as deserved?

Researchers presented this very scenario to students. The results revealed something troubling: people high in empathy—those who usually feel compassion for others—were more likely to side with their own political camp and dismiss the suffering of the other. In contrast, those lower in empathy responded more even-handedly. In other words, empathy itself is often lopsided.

You don’t have to look far to see this dynamic in real life. When right-wing speaker Charlie Kirk and Democratic state legislator Melissa Hortman were shot in separate incidents, leaders initially condemned political violence across the board. But quickly, the public conversation shifted to finger-pointing. Commentators demanded: Why didn’t you denounce violence when our side was under attack? The implication: compassion is conditional, depending on whether the victim is “us” or “them.”

But here’s what’s important: the perception that political opponents condone violence is wildly exaggerated. In one study, partisans estimated that nearly 40 percent of the other side would consider political assassination justifiable. The real number? One to two percent. That’s still too many, but it’s a far cry from what most of us imagine.

This misperception is fueled by a psychological bias called Motive Attribution Asymmetry—the tendency to see ourselves as motivated by love and caring while viewing the other side as driven by hate. When we believe our opponents are hateful and dehumanizing, we feel justified in responding aggressively. The danger is obvious: distorted perceptions can pave the way to real violence.

Breaking that cycle requires intention. Here are a few starting points:

• Tame your media diet. Limit exposure to inflammatory commentary and endless doomscrolling. Staying informed doesn’t require immersing yourself in outrage.
• Correct misperceptions. Remember: the vast majority of people across the political spectrum do not condone violence.
• Practice cross-partisan empathy. When people on the “other side” experience loss—a leader, an election, a policy battle—extend compassion. Responding with genuine kindness can help repair ruptures and remind us of our shared humanity.

Empathy may be lopsided at times, but it doesn’t have to be. By noticing our biases and practicing equanimity, we can lower the temperature of political conflict and reclaim our common humanity.