Political Polarization Test (PPT)

The Political Polarization Test (PPT) is a scientifically crafted tool designed to measure how deeply entrenched an individual’s political attitudes are within the context of modern divisiveness. Drawing from the research of Lilliana Mason (2018), this scale evaluates polarization across four key dimensions: tribalism, ideological rigidity, intolerance of dissent, and distrust in institutions. Built on psychometric principles, the PPT offers a structured way to assess how much you’re caught up in the "us vs. them" mindset that dominates contemporary politics.

Mason’s work, published as Uncivil Agreement: How Politics Became Our Identity by University of Chicago Press, explored how polarization shapes not just voting habits but everyday interactions, relationships, and perceptions of reality. The PPT examines tribalism (loyalty to one’s political "team"), ideological rigidity (inflexibility in beliefs), intolerance of dissent (rejection of opposing views), and distrust in institutions (skepticism toward systems like media, government, or science). Together, these dimensions paint a detailed picture of polarization, from subtle leanings to full-on bunker mentality.

Participants respond to around 40 items, ranging from straightforward questions—like whether you’d cut ties with someone over political differences—to trickier ones about trusting news sources you disagree with. Responses are scored from 0 to 100, with lower scores signaling openness and flexibility and higher scores indicating entrenched polarization. Past data suggests an average societal score of about 42.3, showing polarization is widespread but varies by age, region, and education.

Tribalism measures how much you prioritize loyalty to your political group over facts or reason. Ideological rigidity gauges your willingness to bend or question your core beliefs. Intolerance of dissent looks at how you handle disagreement—do you engage or shut it down? Distrust in institutions tracks your skepticism toward systems that don’t align with your views. Results break down by category, letting you see where your polarization spikes.

The PPT isn’t here to judge; it’s a mirror. It quantifies how much you’re dug into your political foxhole and sparks reflection on how that shapes your world. Whether you’re a centrist, a partisan, or just fed up with it all, this test ties your outlook to broader trends in political psychology.