What occurred to strong partisanship after 1976?

Strong partisanship refers to the increasing loyalty individuals feel toward a particular political party, which has implications for political behavior, voting patterns, and public opinion. After 1976, strong partisanship indeed increased steadily in the United States, as seen in numerous studies and analyses of voting data and party affiliation.

This rise can be attributed to several factors, including the ideological sorting of the parties, where Democrats and Republicans became more distinct in their views and policies. This separation made it easier for individuals to identify with one party or the other based on their beliefs, leading to a more solidified partisan divide. Additionally, the media landscape changed with the emergence of partisan news outlets, which reinforced these divisions and provided audiences with information that aligned with their partisan beliefs.

Furthermore, social identity theory illustrates how individuals' affiliations with political parties became intertwined with their identities, reinforcing loyalty and making it more challenging to switch party allegiance. Political polarization, marked by increased ideological distance between the parties, further solidified this trend of strong partisanship as voters became more extreme in their support for their respective parties.

Overall, the increase in strong partisanship post-1976 reflects a significant transformation in the American political landscape, characterized by enhanced party loyalty and a deeper divide between