Professor Brad Bushman published the article “Cultural Animal Theory of Political Partisan Conflict and Hostility” in the journal Psychological Inquiry on May 8. He published the article with Roy Baumeister, professor of psychology at the University of Queensland.

The article introduces a new theory for the prevalence of partisan conflict in the United States. The theory argues that conservatives focus on amassing resources, while liberals concentrate on distributing resources. The authors said that the problem is with the mutual condemnation of the value of what the other side champions. Bushman said that both the amassment and distribution of resources are absolutely essential for society.

View more information in the Ohio State news release.