Author: Katelyn Moody

Katelyn Moody

Three Ways to Stop Taking Polarization to the Extreme

In his recent study, Ethan Busby, assistant professor of political science at Brigham Young University, uncovered a slew of stereotypes surrounding political parties. 

When asked to describe individuals from a specific party, people were quick to identify hobbies, religions, races, traits, and viewpoints that those individuals would be associated with. These results made it apparent that Americans often place people in a box once they know which political party they affiliate with.

“There is space for us to be polarized in some ways while agreeing that democracy is something that we want,” says Busby, “ that is something we [as researchers] are still exploring; what kinds of partisan polarization are democratically bad? It’s more complex than just saying all polarization is bad all the time.”

Busby shares three ways to look beyond partisan stereotypes and work towards reducing extreme polarization.

1) View those who are ideologically different in terms of politics rather than as genetically different.

“People tend to become more polarized when they think of the parties as their own intrinsic group — not just in what they believe, but who they are and what things define them,” says Busby. It is these types of distinctions that create gaps between us.

Pretending that all people are the same is not the solution. Instead, we should acknowledge that the political parties differ in terms of ideals. Busby reasons, “If we care about reducing polarization we ought to focus on getting people to acknowledge differences between themselves and to think of those differences in terms of politics [rather than] as a group of terrible people who are fundamentally, almost genetically, different. That kind of thinking promotes less polarization.” 

2) Use social media as an opportunity to connect with people who are different from you rather than to reinforce your own opinions.

With the rise of social media, political extremes can seem prominent. However, while most people are enmeshed in social media, Busby is hesitant to blame social media for upward trends in polarization. “People have been polarized before social media and will be polarized long after we move on to something different. And so I do not think it is the source.”

According to the Digital 2021 Report, there are 4.2 billion active social media users around the globe. The majority of those users are online to follow the news or be entertained. Busby highlights that “what is most harmful about social media is it gives us a distorted picture of what people are like. Not everybody talks about politics, and the only people who are talking about politics on social media tend to be people who are strongly motivated by what they think. Most people are not going along with political diatribes on social media.”

The people we tend to follow on social media are ideologically similar to us. “We live in very homogeneous groups,” says Busby, “but we could use social media to connect with people who are very different from us.” Social media can be a tool for us to understand people who value different things than us, especially in politics. Ultimately, it is up to each individual to decide whether or not they want to take his recommendation to invest in understanding those around them who are different.

3) Acknowledge that sometimes we do not understand each other well and work towards greater understanding.

Busby stresses the need to take the time to understand those who are politically different from us. 

We must see them first as human beings and second as individuals who are motivated by different political issues. 

Busby expresses, “I might not agree with them on those issues, I might think that they are fundamentally wrong on those issues. But they are not categorically different kinds of people. You do not have to agree with someone to make them feel like you’ve heard them.” 

Active listening fosters trust and leads to conflict resolution. “If we can feel like other people understand us, then we understand them. We make progress together and handle conflict better.”

About our university campus, Busby shared, “I want BYU to be a beloved community. We should be committed to it. It starts with acknowledging that sometimes we don’t understand each other well. We must be willing to admit that and take the simple step of trying to listen to people before we talk to them, especially in groups that we don’t hear from as much as we should. Try to find ways to listen to people who are not being listened to.”

Learn more about the BYU Political Science program.

Dr. Busby studies political psychology and specializes in extremism, public opinion, racial and ethnic politics, and quantitative methods. He recently published two books with Cambridge University Press: “The Partisan Next Door: Stereotypes of Party Supporters and Consequences for Polarization in America” and “Should You Stay Away from Strangers?: Experiments on the Political Consequences of Intergroup Contact.” Busby earned a Ph.D. in political science from Northwestern University and spent two years as an assistant professor at Clemson University. In 2020, he returned to teach at the alma mater of his undergraduate education and the institution he’s had a lifelong relationship with — his father Dean Busby is a professor in the BYU School of Family Life and now his wife Andrea Kinghorn Busby has joined that department as an assistant professor. In his free time, Busby enjoys grilling and smoking meat, listening to audiobooks, singing with his wife in a gospel choir, walking his dog, and biking.

Katelyn Moody

Thinking About Where Water is Applied Might Help Reduce Impacts of the Megadrought

About 50% of irrigation water is wasted according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). And with the West being in the midst of a megadrought, this is obviously a concern.

Smart sprinklers which adapt applications to local weather conditions can be part of the solution, but spatial analysis of soil water patterns and grass health hold the key to reducing wasted irrigation water. Despite what most think, applying more water is not always the solution to poor grass health. Says Dr. Kerry, a BYU geography professor, “We generally think; ‘oh, the grass is looking dead, put water on it,’ and that’s not always the solution. Our analysis helps us say; ‘this spot needs more water, but in another place, you may need to apply some fertilizer, or you may need to aerate.’”

Along with her colleagues and students, Dr. Kerry has been involved in research examining patterns in soil moisture and grass health on-campus fields to determine ways Utahns can more effectively use water and combat the ongoing megadrought.

Over the course of a year, Dr. Kerry and her students surveyed fields with moisture probes, electrical conductivity meters, and drones to map the water content and the health of the grass. The results were somewhat unexpected in places. “These surveys are helping us understand what factors are causing the dead grass in different places. Soils are not always wettest at the bottom of slopes and; there are places where there is too much water and grass health is poor.”

She further shared, “We are using spatial analysis to determine optimal irrigation zones and have installed sensors in these zones to tell us about the timing of the irrigation and how much water is needed for individual irrigation events.”

Dr. Kerry concludes, “If you are going to apply water efficiently, you need to know how your field varies spatially. You can determine spatial patterns quite inexpensively.” Her research has shown that simple/inexpensive measures of soil moisture can indicate spatial patterns. She suggests that homeowners with grass take simple measures like touching the ground and mapping out where it feels wet or dry; “That can give you a good indication of where to water or not.”

Dr. Ruth Kerry grew up in the United Kingdom, where she completed her studies, including a Ph.D. in precision agriculture from the University of Reading in 2004. She specializes in soil spatial analysis and land evaluation, and precision agriculture. She was previously an affiliate assistant professor at Auburn University. She and her husband are the parents of five children with her oldest just starting at BYU.

Katelyn Moody

Sociology Student Hopes to Curb Housing Inequality

When asked what advice he’d give to prospective sociology students, Luke Sanchez, a junior in sociology from Detroit, says, “Be ready to have your understanding of things flipped on its head…Because you learn so many new things, it can be a challenge to your own worldviews. Knowing that ahead of time is useful because it is a journey. You’ll definitely learn as you go and you’ll be able to figure out what you are passionate about.”

And Luke’s BYU experience perfectly illustrates his point. Sanchez began his BYU journey with the aim of becoming a businessman. However, he diverged from his original course and soon found his passion in sociology. After immersing himself in the program, he has gained invaluable skills that he would not have learned otherwise.

One of the skills is a greater understanding of research. “Every day, we read or hear news headlines and have so much data thrown at us. The two research classes I have taken helped me understand what I can trust, what I can’t trust, what needs to be looked into more, and how I can learn the truth.”

Along with this understanding, Sanchez has developed an appreciation for people from all walks of life. “I have learned about people that live differently, think differently, and have different experiences than I do. Recognizing when I don’t know certain things and how to approach those situations so that I can learn has helped me create new relationships, better existing relationships, and understand more about myself.”

While completing his degree, Sanchez enjoys working as a member of the Diversity, Collaboration, and Inclusion committee for the College of Family, Home, and Social Sciences and serving as an officer for the Anti-Racism Club. ”One project I’ve been working on will help students more easily find the resources they need on campus and in the community whenever they need help for a huge variety of issues,” says Sanchez. 

Upon graduation, Sanchez plans to acquire a real estate investment company or start his own. He says, “I think my long-term goal is to be able to focus on the real estate industry. So many inequalities stem from real estate here in the United States, and I want to be able to make an impact.”

Luke strives to contribute to building a beloved community at BYU. He says, “To me, a beloved community is a community of learning. We can live with people who are different and love them because we know them. We can have personal connections with people who are different and not let those differences push us apart. Here on campus specifically, I think that means we want to be proximate with everybody; we are proximate with people who are similar and people who are different.”

Learn more about sociology and get involved with Belonging in the College of Family, Home, and Social Sciences today.

Katelyn Moody

What Kind of Ancestor Will You Be?

On September 22, 2022, Jennifer Ortiz, director for the Utah Division of State History, visited BYU for the annual Fernando R. Gomez lecture. Jennifer’s vision and intention for State History includes diversifying the narratives we collectively share as a state and ensuring those who practice history better reflect our demographics in Utah.

History is the way people want to express themselves. Jennifer Ortiz, the first woman to run the 125-year-old organization and the first person to identify as a minority, shared with students and faculty about The Peoples of Utah Revisited program. The multi-year initiative is designed to celebrate Utah’s diverse past and is a follow-up to the original Peoples of Utah project published over 50 years ago.

The initiative is comprised of a variety of events to teach families and communities how to record, scan, and treasure their history. “The goal for the project,” says Ortiz, “ is working with community groups to tell their stories in ways they want to tell them; to gather those untold stories, amplify misrepresented voices, and share with communities across the state that their stories are important.”

Along with this major project, Ortiz spotlighted an assortment of projects focused on the last 50 years of Utah’s history created to document history for the misunderstood and growing populations in the state. Amongst these are the Utah Historical Quarterly, which presents updated research in the field of Utah History; the Women’s history initiative, which examines the contributions Utah women have made over the years; and the collections and library program, which houses a host of Utah artifacts, photographs, and manuscripts.

Ortiz emphasized how the original Peoples of Utah project changed the trajectory of public history in the state saying, “It really laid the foundation for diversity in teaching scholarship on Utah history.” She encouraged all to get involved in recording their personal history.

Learn more about BYU’s Department of History.

Katelyn Moody

BYU Anthropology Celebrates 75 Years

“The most common response I receive when I tell someone that I am studying sociocultural anthropology is, ‘What is that?’” says Elisabeth Morris, a senior in anthropology from Virginia. “For me, personally, anthropology is a means to learn how to respect and understand differences between cultures while holding true to my own beliefs.”

It’s been more than 75 years since the first anthropology course — a class on archaeology — was taught on campus. The Anthropology Department in the College of Family, Home, and Social Sciences now offers two majors, a secondary major, a master’s degree, and a certificate. The department hosts archaeological and anthropological field schools each year, as well as a variety of opportunities for students to participate in mentored research on topics and regions they’re interested in.

Celebrate with the Anthropology Department on Friday, September 16, 6-8 p.m. at the Museum of Peoples and Cultures.

Morris believes anthropology is an important area of study that helps people gain understanding, which leads to compassion and a desire to serve. This idea was reinforced as she spent the summer in Brazil as an intern at the Institute of Brazilian Studies at the University of São Paulo in São Paulo. In addition to studying Brazilian culture in the archives, she interacted with the people that lived there and visited numerous museums, parks, and cultural centers. 

“I learned that while there are distinct factors that separate my culture from Brazilian culture, people remain people,” says Morris. “The issues we believe are unique to our lives and societies are not — we have much more in common than we think. Anthropology is necessary in the world today and can be used to heal the wounds of the past.”

Anthropology Through the Eyes of an Educator

Michael Searcy, BYU anthropology professor and department chair, says, “​​The Anthropology Department has the goal of teaching our students how to explore the human experience and seek solutions to real-world problems.”

One of the best aspects of the program is the field school program where students get to travel to international countries to study various cultures or participate in an actual archaeological excavation. According to Searcy, “There is nothing like discovering artifacts buried beneath the earth and touching them for the first time in hundreds or thousands of years!”

As students immerse themselves in the study of human behavior, they come to understand how humans get along, how to combat prejudice, and how to contribute to the well-being of society. They anticipate a variety of career paths and job security in law, user experience, media, government, community leadership, and more (see a list of Anthropologists In Action below). 

“For anyone interested in studying some of the most fascinating societies in the world, past and present, our degree programs in anthropology are ideal for students looking to broaden their career opportunities in the future,” says Searcy.

Anniversary Celebration Details

To commemorate its 75th anniversary, the Anthropology Department is hosting an open house at the BYU Museum of Peoples and Cultures on Friday, September 16, from 6-8 p.m. The event is open to the public and includes a backroom tour. The museum is located at 2201 North Canyon Rd. in Provo.

Anthropologists in Action

Here is a list of current job titles for which anthropologists are well prepared, courtesy of the American Anthropological Association:

  • Lead Experience Researcher and Social Impact Researcher, Airbnb
  • Social Scientist, CDC
  • User Experience Researcher and Staff Research Scientist, Facebook
  • Health Scientist, FDA
  • Computational Anthropologist, IBM
  • Principal Engineer, Health Researcher, and Research Scientist, Intel
  • Historian and Cultural Anthropologist, National Park Service
  • User Experience Researcher, Netflix
  • Principal Researcher in Human-Centered Systems, Nissan
  • Community Manager, Reddit
  • Digital Curator, Program Curator, Research Scientist, Museum Educator, and Archivist, The Smithsonian Institution
  • Health Scientist, Department of Veteran Affairs
  • Research Forester and Research Social Scientist, US Department of Agriculture
  • Social Development Specialist, World Bank

Follow BYU Anthropology on Facebook.