The Science of Public Discourse: A Guide for Navigating Divisive Conversations

Managing divisiveness and polarizing topics

In recent years, many people have noticed an increase in the hostility of public discourse, especially when it comes to contentious social and political issues.

While we may be in a tough spot, this is not necessarily a new concern.

The core of the ongoing American experiment has always been the question of how to democratically manage differences.

Charting new ways forward, even amid disagreement

The Laboratory for the American Conversation was founded in 2017 to provide research-based solutions for addressing the challenges of contemporary public discourse.

The mission of our Lab is to advance the public good by promoting intellectually and inter-culturally rich environments that foster constructive dialogue among diverse groups on critical issues.

The goal of The Science of Public Discourse program is to help you understand how to have contentious conversations that don’t escalate into the culture wars that have become all too common. You can apply this in your workplace, as well as with family and friends.

In this online course, we give you the key information on

why we experience such sociopolitical animosity
how to predict the way that communications about contentious issues will play out
how to apply this knowledge in personal and professional life

These are the tools that will enable individuals to lower the temperature on divisive conversations and to chart new ways forward even when common ground remains elusive.

The Science of Public Discourse Overview

By the end of the course, you will

1.) Become familiar with core social and moral values that people are commonly trying to express when they enter into public discourse.

2.) Understand how two key social scientific theories predict the patterned ways in which people fear the annihilation of their core values, and how this can lead to intense animosity.

3.) Dive into the latest research on framing divisive issues. A series of empirical case studies are presented -- on suicide and firearms, climate change, political preferences, and Covid policies -- that demonstrate how affirming peoples’ core values can drastically influence their opinions on important issues.

4.) Practice applying a 5-stage, research-based communication strategy that will help promote respectful dialogue in personal and professional life.

On demand. Access any time.

3 hours

Online

$225

225

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Instructors

Christopher Wolsko, Ph.D.

Dr. Wolsko is Co-Director of the Laboratory for the American Conversation and Associate Professor of Psychology at Oregon State University - Cascades. His work is oriented toward promoting the health and well-being of diverse peoples and the places they inhabit. His research examines the cultural construction of health behaviors, experiences of flourishing in natural environments, and communication about contentious societal issues. Chris supports the Laboratory for the American Conversation's work with expertise in social psychology, experimental methods, quantitative analysis and extended rumination on vicious cycles of fear mongering and existential threat.

Elizabeth Marino, Ph.D.

Dr. Marino is Co-Director of the Laboratory for the American Conversation and Associate Professor of Anthropology at Oregon State University - Cascades. She is especially interested in how people perceive risk, make decisions and create meaning in their social and environmental contexts. Her research focuses on climate change policy, traditional and local knowledge, and the use of core values to navigate novel situations. In the Laboratory for the American Conversation, Dr. Marino is a qualitative researcher who specializes in discourse analysis. She also loves hanging out with hunters, gatherers, fishers, farmers and other people who pay close attention to the land and water.

Past Students' Work

Take a look at some recent projects our students have created.