This article talks about an important psychological phenomenon known as "splitting."
"A view of reality that reflects sharp divisions between good and bad, with feelings of love and generosity on one side and hatred on the other, relies upon the psychological defense mechanism known as splitting. Splitting normally works to resolve unbearable ambiguity: when we feel unable to tolerate the tension aroused by complexity, we "resolve" that complexity by splitting it into two simplified and opposing parts, usually aligning ourselves with one of them and rejecting the other. The result is the kind of black-and-white thinking that underlies the fundamentalist world view or extreme political partisanship....
"At one time or another, each of us relies on splitting to some degree. It's built into us, a part of human nature.
"Following a traumatic event such as 9/11 or the Boston Marathon bombings, splitting can provide emotional comfort...."
http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2013/04/the-psychology-of-unity-after-tragedy/275158/
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