Controversial Discussions: The Psychology of Conversation

The landscape of the United States seems more polarized than ever across many hot-button topics. In a world of two-second sound-bite arguments, political pundits, and rhetorical strategies to obtain points rather than the truth, some wonder how having conversations amidst diverse opinions is possible. How can we create a culture of appropriate controversial discussions and evaluate claims critically? How do we engage in conversation without the trappings of name-calling or shouting? This class attempts to navigate this tightrope and dig deeper into the human ego, its insecurities, and why it is the case that progress cannot be made in the key issues that concern us most. This class will cover an introduction to the psychology of conversation, methods of interviewing and questioning, common errors in logic and reasoning, and research skills related to hot-button topics. Learning methods and practices for creating and engaging in constructive conversations is crucial for increasing community health and cooperation. By the end of the course, you will have produced a fact sheet detailing an unbiased snapshot of the issue and its different perspectives. Additionally, you will create a brochure of the topic, which acts as a guide to help facilitate constructive conversations. MCPS has approved this camp session for 10 Student Service Learning (SSL) hours. Instructor: Cedric Price