Dis Coarse Discourse 0
At Psychology Today Blogs, Soren Kaplan looks at the polarized state of dis coarse discourse and reminds us that “(i)t’s an inconvenient truth. Polarization feels good.” He notes that taking polarized positions feed emotional needs that inhibit efforts to reach across differences, in particular (emphasis in the original),
Choosing sides in a polarized debate gives us:
Belonging — Feeling accepted, valued, and connected to a group of like-minded people.
Control — Feeling agency and certainty in the face of a complex and unpredictable world.
Meaning — Seeing ourselves as part of something bigger, that includes a sense of purpose, significance, and moral clarity.
He goes on to list several techniques for bridging divides in a polarized environment.
Methinks it a timely and worthwhile read in these times where so many sell divisiveness–often for reasons unrelated to whatever issue may be at hand.
