#69: A Mental Health Counselor on Psychology in Debate (with Robin Atkins)

Equipped for Life Podcast

Robin Atkins is back to discuss psychology in debate. Robin is a licensed mental health counselor, specializing in reproductive issues. She also has a philosophy degree. She spent four years doing home-based therapy with the Department of Children's Services. She's a pro-life advocate with an atypical perspective on some of the issues surrounding abortion.

Related Links:

Listen to our first episode with Robin, on adoption vs. foster care vs. abortion

Dialogue Tip: Tell Them That They Can’t Offend You

We referenced our mutual friend Petra Wallenmeyer who is now a writing intern at ERI, as well as the Content Director for the Human Defense Initiative. Read her articles here.

Our first Humor in Dialogue podcast

A Comedian Shares Tips for Using Humor in Dialogue

Should Pro-Lifers be Snarky? (with Dank Pro-Life Memes)

Charisma on Command YouTube channel

Brant Hanson's book, "Unoffendable: How Just One Change Can Make All of Life Better"

Disclosure: The book above is an Amazon affiliate link. This means that, at zero cost to you, ERI will earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction

02:00 Defining communication

03:44 Navigating debates, in-person and online

05:53 Clarifying the labels "speaker" vs "listener"

08:25 How do you help someone who is constantly offended by the other side?

13:36 Ideology-driven vs. topic-driven debate

17:31 How do you get past people's defenses?

20:03 Should our primary goal be to change minds?

24:49 Timing and empathy matters

26:27 On anecdotal evidence and miscarriage

31:54 On benevolent trolling and the use of snark

43:31 When is it time to end an unproductive conversation?

47:25 If self-awareness is important, how can people who aren't self-aware discover and work on that?

49:11 Why is civil discourse so low right now, and what can do we about that?

59:27 What is it you'd like people to take from the "Unoffendable" book?