Rediscovering Tomkins' polarity theory : Humanism, normativism, and the psychological basis of left-right ideological conflict in the U.S. and Sweden
According to Silvan Tomkins' polarity theory, ideological thought is universally structured by a clash between two opposing worldviews. On the left, a humanistic worldview seeks to uphold the intrinsic value of the person; on the right, a normative worldview holds that human worth is contingent upon conformity to rules. In this article, we situate humanism and normativism within the context of con
