Jonathan Alpert Warns 1 in 7 Americans Accept Political Violence in 'Therapy Nation'
Updated
Updated · Fox News · May 17
Jonathan Alpert Warns 1 in 7 Americans Accept Political Violence in 'Therapy Nation'
4 articles · Updated · Fox News · May 17
Jonathan Alpert says his book "Therapy Nation," due May 19, argues therapeutic language has recast political opponents as psychological threats rather than fellow citizens with different views.
1 in 7 Americans now find political violence acceptable, he says, linking that shift to moral absolutism that weakens normal restraints on hostility and makes extreme reactions feel justified.
Alpert describes patients cutting off friends and relatives over politics and says some clinicians and online voices now frame disagreement itself as emotional harm requiring distance.
Social media and political media reinforce certainty over reflection, he argues, lowering tolerance for discomfort and shrinking the space for persuasion, coexistence and democratic self-government.
Has our quest for emotional safety made us too fragile for the friction that democracy requires?
The Alarming Rise of Political Violence Acceptance in the U.S.: Drivers, Dangers, and Solutions
Overview
The report highlights a troubling rise in the acceptance of political violence in the United States, with 1 in 7 Americans now viewing it as sometimes justifiable. This shift is driven by escalating and inflammatory rhetoric, deep societal and partisan divisions, and the growing influence of digital platforms that amplify extreme views. As political violence becomes more visible and normalized, it erodes social norms and democratic institutions. The report calls for bipartisan condemnation, civil discourse, and structural reforms to address these interconnected drivers and to rebuild resilience and unity in American society.