Celebration & Polarization, Holiday Survival Kit (Part 1): Deflating Political Football

The Purple Principle

Are we Americans trapped in our end zones of polarized bubbles ever more motivated to reason away conflicting information or viewpoints?

Our featured guest, psychologist Tania Israel, thinks not and should know. Dr. Israel has been holding workshops over the past two decades to help participants bridge political and social divisions. In this Purple Principle episode, the first in a three-part series on holiday survival amidst polarization, co-hosts Rob Pease & Jillian Youngblood speak with Tania about these workshops, her flowchart that (almost) solved political polarization, and her new book, Beyond Your Bubble: How to Connect Across the Political Divide.

With Dr. Israel’s facilitation, we apply the bubble bursting toolkit to a serious in-house case of affective (e.g negative) polarization -- Jillian’s deep dislike of the New England Patriots, especially ex-Patriot and presumptive GOAT (greatest of all time), quarterback Tom Brady, stemming from her identity as a New York Jets Fan.

“I’m so glad you brought up something that’s so central to our democracy.” quips Tania, who gamely plays along as we advance this metaphor down the political football field.

Family gatherings were never friction-free. Then polarization came along. Tune in for helpful advice from an all-star in respectful and compassionate dialogue, just in time for Thanksgiving. Author and scholar Dr. Tania Israel is the first guest in our three-part Holiday Survival Kit.

SHOW NOTES

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Our Guests

Tania Israel: Website, Twitter, Book, Faculty page.

Additional Resources

• How to Win a Political Argument | Dr. Tania Israel | TEDxSanLuisObispo
• Moderates are less likely to post about their political views on social media | Pew Research
• Bipartisan Public Consensus Offers Direction for US Foreign Policy in Second Bush Term | Dr. Steven Kull
• The Bias Blind Spot: Perceptions of Bias in Self Versus Others
• Motivated Skepticism in the Evaluation of Political Beliefs | AJPS
• Tom Brady suspension case timeline
• NFL History - Super Bowl Winners | ESPN

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