Are We Done Fighting?

Building understanding in a world of hate and division

Matthew Legge

Improve Conflict by Setting Boundaries

Frustrating conversations often feature people talking past each other. The meaning of commonly used words can differ from person to person.

When Polarization Is Beneficial

Wikipedia and the social media platform Polis provide encouraging examples of how polarization can be navigated for positive results.

The Rise of Self-Censorship

Self-censorship is on the rise among those on both the right and left in the U.S., regardless of how moderate or extreme their views actually are. This has multiple important implications.

Why It's Better to Stay Curious Than to Make Assumptions

Curiosity has some powerful proven benefits, from helping people respond better to stress to reducing stereotyping.

You’re Not an Individual, and Here’s Why

Research shows that so much of what you feel and do depends on your social networks.

Experts Use This Trick to Transform Conflicts

This shift in the way you think about conflicts can make you more powerful in analyzing them and in getting your needs met.

Is That Literally True?

Muddled conversations can cause all kinds of problems in your life. Here's a simple fix for a common communication mistake.

These 4 Steps Will Help When You’re Stuck

How is it that some of us get stuck, while others make major changes look effortless? Experts suggest that these four steps are key.

Would You Know You Were Talking to an AI?

An incredible example—not knowing you're talking to an AI chatbot—illustrates a common problem in bitter societal conflicts: the challenge of interpretation.

“Cancel Culture” Letter: 7 Tips from the Debate

A letter signed by prominent figures criticizing "cancel culture" has caused an explosive debate. Here are some relevant tips for better conflicts.

COVID-19: The Polarizing Impacts of Uncertainty

The COVID-19 pandemic is impacting all of us. So why are our responses so polarized?

The Psychology That Explains Your Reaction to Mass Protests

The key factors that research finds will influence your feeling about protests like those around the police killing of George Floyd.

This Is What Happens When You Snap

COVID-19 is causing many of us to feel understandably unsettled and on edge. This is what happens when people suddenly "snap" and how to avoid it.

Who Do You Trust?

With increasingly sophisticated ways of concealing and manipulating the truth, we need these skills to build trust.

What You Get Wrong in Tough Conversations

Low-quality conversations on tough topics aren’t inevitable. Try this instead.

Are You Really in a “War”?

Why do so many of us think we’re in the middle of a culture war? How does that metaphor impact our disagreements?

5 Life Lessons from Don Cherry’s Firing

The firing of a controversial hockey personality contains five valuable lessons that can apply to our own conflicts.

They Were Once Neo-Nazis. You Can Learn from Them.

What makes people hate, what helps them change, and what can you learn from that for your own life?

Can the Left/Right Divide in the US be Bridged?

Getting discouraged about the growing divide between the left and right? Here are the seven key points you need to know.

The Surprising Role of Happiness in Acting for Social Change

A brief look at the unlikely roles that feeling good and being grateful play in trying to change the world.

Does a Broader Concept of Harm Make Us Weaker?

How you define harm, abuse, or prejudice might make a difference to your well-being.

Either-or Thinking Is Making Your Life Worse

Simplistic thinking may be harming your relationships, health, and decisions. Here's what you can do about it.

Even Mindfulness Meditation Has Turned Into a Minefield

The last topic you’d imagine to be explosively controversial is sitting still and peacefully watching our thoughts. You’d be wrong. How does every issue become contentious?

Why Following the Evidence Is So Hard: The Case of GMOs

How do conflicts like that about GMOs become so polarized? What can we learn from this for when we're in any kind of tough conversation?

How Language Can Polarize Us

Some research on the messy challenges surrounding language choices, "political correctness," and rising polarization.

How to Bring out the Best in People in a Polarized World

Surprising evidence suggests that how we approach others can make positive and fulfilling interactions more likely.