CHAPTER 6: BOLSTER AND BREAK—LOCATE LATENT BUBBLES

CHAPTER 6 SUMMARY

  • When trapped in the riptide of a deeply polarized community, it is best to figure out how to work with the flow of forces and energy in the situation to find a way out.

  • This is best achieved by identifying and building on bright spots – those people and programs that are already working effectively across divides.

  • Tapping into these forms of positive deviance can be done by learning to inquire about them first, working away from the heat of conflict, learning to trust the insight and expertise within the community, connecting the dots between such groups, and doing so carefully as to not do harm.

  • This can be challenging to do due to the fit, fear, friend and fixer problems.

  • Beyond supporting what works, we also need to find ways to weaken our worst tendencies. This can be done by leveraging ruptures, repellers (taboos), adjusting our deep rules, and overcoming resistance to change.

CHAPTER 6 EXERCISES AND ASSESSMENTS

Locate Positive Deviance Near You Using Princeton University’s Bridging Divides Initiative Map

Learn more about Dialogue Facilitation Organizations Nationwide

Explore Stories of Hope from around the U.S.

 

Sensing Ripeness: Where are Our Better Angels?

 
 

CHAPTER 6 IMPLICATIONS

Break Down the Worst

Build Up What Works

  • Be Optimistic. Believe in your own capacities, and those of like-minded people, to make a positive difference in your situation.

  • Work on your prior positive relational foundations. Try to rebuild some degree of rapport, trust, friendliness and humor with them.

  • Carefully identify the networks of effective action in your community that are doing good work.

  • Be mindful of the combined power of the fit, fear, friend and fixer problems for holding you back.

  • Find the possibilities for action that allow you to circumvent the conflict and make it less salient and relevant.

  • Ask questions like, “Why doesn’t this conflict get worse than it is?” “How do some families and communities manage tense political divisions more effectively than others?” or “What provides a sense of hope, optimism and even cross-party unity in my community today?”

  • Connect the Dots. Map the system of what is working to find ways of bolstering virtuous cycles.

  • When possible, highlight or bring together people who are enacting a change that others may feel that they themselves need to make.

  • Locate latent sources of resonance in your situation, a form of shared motivation that gives way to a sense of unity and joint purpose.

  • What are the most basic rules for partisan discourse and interaction in your life and community, and how might they be contributing to your attraction to division? How might they be kept in check, modified or over-ridden?

  • Where are the groups and organizations within your community that follow more respectful but effective rules for political discourse and interaction?

  • What are the primary sources of resistance that you are currently facing (like the fit, fear, friend and fixer problems) that might be addressed to allow yourself to move in a more constructive direction?

  • What are the opportunities for leveraging paradoxical thinking interventions, or exaggerated forms of polarization-supporting messaging?

  • What may be the primary sources of resistance they are facing?

  • What are the taboos or other prohibitions against hostile acts that are important within your community, which might be leveraged to prevent more destructive or violent forms of behaviors?