In the great tradition of family feuds, nothing stirs things up quite like a good old fashioned political argument with the in-laws.
Research shows that these heated arguments are now the leading source of tension in American households, surpassing disagreements over lifestyle choices and even the ever-contentious “best way to load the dishwasher” debate.
Politics is the most contentious topic between Americans and their in-laws, according to an exclusive Newsweek poll conducted by Talker Research among 1,000 Americans from August 27-29.
Of those surveyed, 31% said they have argued with their in-laws about politics, more than other contentious topics such as lifestyle choices (22%) and disagreements about partners (21%).
With the presidential election between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris in full swing, political polarization is once again at the heart of many disagreements in the US. These tensions can easily spill over into personal relationships, sometimes even putting family members on no speaking terms with each other.
Negative sentiment dominates political discussions, with 79% of respondents describing the U.S. political system with words like “divisive” and “corrupt,” according to 2023 data from the Pew Research Center. Still, there are signs that people are more united on politics than is often suggested.
This January, Newsweek asked When we asked our readers about their views on the political divide, we found that more Americans than we expected share a common position.
The article found agreement on less divisive Supreme Court decisions, instances of bipartisanship in Congress, and cultural phenomena like Taylor Swift’s Erasu Tour.
But this latest survey shows that political discord continues to be a major source of conflict, especially within families.
Other common themes of conflict with stepparents were money (19%), child-rearing decisions (18%) and cultural issues (14%). Less common, but still notable, were family issues (13%) and disagreements about gender or sexual orientation (3%).
Tara Arutunian, a licensed psychologist based in New York, shared her thoughts on the survey findings.
“Identification with political ideals often represents a deeper perception of how we see ourselves and how society should function. These notions of right and wrong are often oversimplified and lack nuance, leading to disagreement,” she told Newsweek.
As for why these arguments are so likely, Arutunian pointed to generational differences, but above all, she suggested that political debate is unlikely to change opinions beyond shouting matches at the dinner table.
“In-laws may see themselves as more experienced and knowledgeable than the younger generation,” Arutunian says, “and the younger generation may feel that their in-laws don’t understand the modern world. This kind of impasse is unlikely to improve, so acknowledging the differences and avoiding future discussions will bring more harmony to the relationship.”
The randomized, double opt-in survey was commissioned by Newsweek magazine and conducted among 1,000 members of the American public between August 27-29. The survey was conducted by market research firm Talker Research, whose team members are members of the Market Research Association and the European Association for Public Opinion and Marketing Research.