Fixing the Drawback of Polarization

Supply: Photograph by Ashkan Forouzani on Unsplash

We hear loads about how polarized the USA is lately. However it is not at all times clear what folks imply by that declare (for a fantastic dialogue of this, see Moderately Polarized right here at Psychology At the moment).

One factor we imply by it’s that individuals are offended and unwilling to listen to one another, to attempt to see the world from the attitude of different folks. I need to deal with a selected side of the issue of polarization, particularly, the damaging affect on {our relationships} with household, buddies, co-workers, and anybody else we work together with on a reasonably common foundation. We frequently appear unable to debate controversial points or have political disagreements with others with out there additionally being injury to the connection itself.

However it does not need to be this manner.

I need to deal with how we disagree, slightly than what we disagree about lately. Reasonably than in search of the reality in a cooperative approach, we enable anger to drive us aside. And at occasions, we get right into a vicious cycle.

As Dallas Willard places it, “The sense of self-righteousness that comes with our anger merely provokes extra anger and self-righteousness on the opposite aspect” (The Divine Conspiracy, p. 151). However disagreement about these points needn’t result in anger. We will passionately disagree with out anger. How?

Compassion is the best way ahead

We will not simply remedy the social media algorithms that favor battle, we will not simply change the best way that totally different media shops work to foster controversy, anger, and concern. However we will tackle the issue of polarization in us. Typically, we are the issue. Our concern, our anger, our lack of empathy.

What can we do to decrease the temperature of our anger and in our dialogue about controversial points? There are various issues, however one key approach ahead is to maneuver away from anger and in direction of a compassionate understanding of others and their views. Basically phrases, compassion features a perception that the struggling of others issues, that it needs to be stopped. It consists of feelings, too, feeling pained by the struggling of others. It additionally signifies that we act, we really do one thing to alleviate the struggling of others.

How does this relate to polarization?

We should keep in mind that there’s a narrative behind each individual’s beliefs, phrases, and conduct. Typically that could be a story that features important struggling. We might do nicely to maintain this in thoughts. It helps us keep away from dehumanizing these we disagree with, and perceive them and the place they’re coming from. We should disagree about controversial points, but when we will enter into dialogue with others from a spot of compassion, now we have a greater likelihood at having not solely civil dialogue but additionally dialogue that’s productive.

We will be taught from one another, slightly than attacking each other in anger. That is place to start out fixing the issue of polarization.