The Exhausted Majority

America’s Hidden Tribes

In 2018, More in Common launched “Hidden Tribes,” a research study aimed to understand the forces that drive political polarization and tribalism in the United States. Through collecting the views of 8,000 Americans we found people’s worldviews, core beliefs, and attitudes can predict an individual’s views on social and political issues with greater accuracy than demographic factors like race, gender, or income.

The research revealed 7 unique “tribes,” Americans fall into based on their underlying beliefs and attitudes. Within these 7 tribes, we found 4, comprising 67% of Americans, are part of the “Exhausted Majority,” defined by Americans that despite different views on policies, are fed up with polarization, believe we have more in common than what divides us, are more ideologically flexible, and want to move past our differences.

Yet they also are not as politically active as the “wings,” which are the tribes defined by those on the right and left who often dominate the political conversations, are more ideologically rigid, and have greater distrust and animosity of the opposing side.

Our Hidden Tribes report has illuminated the polarization landscape for leaders, media, politicians, and the public. Boasting features in hundreds of media articles and almost two hundred academic and other publications, the term “Exhausted Majority” has been used by leaders, commentators, and politicians from across the political spectrum. It now serves as a cornerstone for various entities working to address polarization.

67%

of Americans are part of the Exhausted Majority.

The Exhausted Majority make up the two thirds of Americans who are fed up with the polarization, often forgotten in public discourse, flexible in their views, and believe we can find common ground.