The U.S. election was a chilling illustration of the atrocious state of public discourse. It doesnB次元官网网址檛 bode well for a country once admired for leadership in education and science.
As public relations expert and former David Suzuki Foundation board chair James Hoggan writes in IB次元官网网址檓 Right and YouB次元官网网址檙e an Idiot, B次元官网网址減olluted public discourse is an enormous obstacle to change.B次元官网网址� How, he asks, do we B次元官网网址渃reate the space for higher quality public debates where passionate opposition and science shape constructive, mind-changing conversations?B次元官网网址�
If those vying to be president of the most powerful country in the world couldnB次元官网网址檛 do it, what hope is there? For his book, co-written with Grania Litwin, Hoggan interviewed a range of thinkers, from linguist and cognitive scientist George Lakoff to the Dalai Lama. Whether or not their insights can raise the level of political discourse among politicians who think name-calling, logical fallacies and lies constitute legitimate debate remains to be seen, but the book offers advice for anyone who wants to improve conversations and create positive change in this age of online bickering, propaganda and entrenched positions.
Social psychologist Carol Tavris says part of the problem relates to B次元官网网址渃ognitive dissonance.B次元官网网址� Unlike scientists, who revise their positions in response to testing and challenging hypotheses, most people resist changing their minds, especially if they feel it would threaten them or their real or imagined privileges.
Yale Law School psychology and law professor Dan Kahan says confirmation bias and motivated reasoning also come into play. Confirmation bias is peopleB次元官网网址檚 tendency to seek and select information that confirms their beliefs. Motivated reasoning is the unconscious habit of processing information to suit an end or goal that doesnB次元官网网址檛 necessarily conform to accurate beliefs. Climate change is a good case in point. Although evidence for human-caused global warming is backed by mountains of research compiled over decades by scientists from around the world, and its impacts are observable, many people refuse to accept it, promoting debunked ideas and fossil fuel industry talking points, because they feel profits or their way of life will be negatively affected by addressing it. B次元官网网址淲hen you have a combination of economic, ideological and psychological biases all in play, itB次元官网网址檚 very difficult for human beings to easily accept large-scale social and economic change,B次元官网网址� Tavris observes.
So how do we overcome these stumbling blocks, especially when climate change deniers hold power in the U.S.? In looking at changing perceptions and habits around things like seatbelts, smoking and environmental protection, Tavris argues that dialogue and changing peopleB次元官网网址檚 hearts isnB次元官网网址檛 enough, that B次元官网网址測ou have to first change the laws, change public notions of what is acceptable or unacceptable behavior and change the economic consequences of practices you want to alter.B次元官网网址� ThatB次元官网网址檚 more than a challenge in the current political atmosphere.
But we have to start somewhere. And improving the ways we communicate with each other is essential. Much of current discussion around the U.S. election result centres on politicians not listening to those left behind as global trade and technology outpaced antiquated economic systems. Many say the Democrats failed in part because they abandoned those who lost livelihoods in coal mines or factories as technologies changed and corporate leaders shifted production to parts of the world with lower labour costs and standards. Although the president-electB次元官网网址檚 choices of appointments and advisers show heB次元官网网址檚 deep in the pockets of corporate America, especially the fossil fuel industry, he succeeded in tapping into the disillusionment.
We must listen to those who are suffering. We should also consider the difference between debate and dialogue. As social scientists Steve Rosell and Daniel Yankelovich tell Hoggan, B次元官网网址渄ebate is about seeing weaknesses in other peopleB次元官网网址檚 positions, while dialogue is about searching for strength and value in our opponentsB次元官网网址� concerns.B次元官网网址�
Vietnamese Buddhist monk Th铆ch Nhat Hanh says, B次元官网网址淪peak the truth, but not to punish.B次元官网网址� While facts and reason are important, Hoggan points out, theyB次元官网网址檙e not enough to change peopleB次元官网网址檚 minds.
