Replication data for: “I Disrespectfully Agree:” The differential effects of partisan sorting on behavioral and issue polarization

Disagreements over whether polarization exists in the mass public have confounded two separate types of polarization. When behavioral polarization is separated from issue position polarization, both sides of the polarization debate can be simultaneously correct. Behavioral polarization, characterized by increased levels of partisan bias, activism and anger, is increasing, driven by partisan identity and political identity alignment, and does not require the same magnitude of issue position polarization. The partisan-ideological sorting that has occurred in recent decades has caused the nation as a whole to hold more aligned political identities, which has strengthened partisan identity and the activism, bias and anger that result from strong identities, even though issue positions have only moderately polarized. The result is a nation that generally agrees on many things, but is bitterly divided nonetheless. An examination of ANES data finds strong support for these hypotheses.