Page 6 - Division, Intolerance, and Conflict: Can Public Civility Ever Be Restored?

Flight attendants were just one group of people
that had to deal with angry public outbursts
over mask mandates. As planes lled up more,
disputes occurred at a higher rate.

all the time triggers negative health effects, including insomnia,
depression, high blood pressure, stroke, and heart attack.
It does not have to be this way. Studies suggest that there
are links between heavy use of social media and negative emo-
tions. “Disaster television viewing”—obsessively viewing news
programs after natural- and human-caused disasters—can in-
crease negative emotions, leading to angry outbursts, irritability,
and aggression. Psychiatrist Joshua Morganstein suggests ways
to avoid anger-induced problems. “We all have to be very cau-
tious with our exposures to the media,” he says. “There is so
much stimulation and so much information. And much of it is not
good news. . . . We really could all stand more media breaks.” 4
Despite the divisive news, an overwhelming majority of people
care about their neighbors and are polite to one another. They

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