Jun 17, 2021
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?