The Perception Gap is the difference between your perception of what other groups believe and what they actually believe.

We tend to perceive other groups as more extreme, which may not be accurate.

Why?

• We notice more nuance in our own group, contributing to bias.
• We pay attention to extreme examples of other groups.
• We tend to surround ourselves with people who reinforce views.
• Media often highlight extreme views, making them seem more common than they are.

We are far less divided than we believe ourselves to be.

According to the Constructive Dialogue Institute, here is what we can do.

Seek different perspectives.
Get curious about opinions and worldviews other than your own. Explore classes, podcasts, or other media that express varying views.  

Learn the why behind the what.
Focus on understanding the reasons behind people's beliefs and opinions. It might surprise you.

Check your perception.
If something isn't clear, ask questions like, "Can you tell me more about why you think that?"

Practice helps.
Follow this link to an interactive program to learn three science-backed strategies for navigating difficult conversations and practice them through a personalized interactive online simulator.