About Us
We work with institutions across the education, for-profit, non-profit, and public sectors to help them communicate across differences and build inclusive cultures.
Grounded In Research
At CDI, research is central to our organizational DNA. We begin by developing our educational tools based on cutting-edge behavioral science research. Then, we rigorously evaluate the effectiveness of our tools to iterate and improve them on an ongoing basis. Lastly, we conduct original research to elevate the value of constructive dialogue and disseminate new insights to the public.
We are the only offering in the constructive dialogue field with evidence from randomized controlled trials demonstrating our effectiveness.
Why We Exist
The Constructive Dialogue Institute was founded in 2017 by Jonathan Haidt and Caroline Mehl in response to the rising division and distrust threatening to tear America apart.
As our political parties increasingly align with core aspects of our identities, Americans now see ourselves as belonging to distinct tribes, locked in a zero-sum battle for the fate of our nation's future.
Americans are living in alternative realities, where there is no longer agreement on basic facts. These trends pose an enormous threat to our institutions and democracy.
The Core Problem
Our fracturing civic culture is a foundational issue that underlies all of the major issues of our time. In order to solve 21st-century challenges, we need a healthy political system that can meet the needs of the public.
This requires an informed and engaged citizenry that can understand the mechanics of our democracy, critically evaluate information, discuss complex and divisive issues, and cooperate to achieve shared goals.
Our Solutions
At the Constructive Dialogue Institute, we are on an ambitious journey to repair our civic culture by spreading the practices of curiosity, critical thinking, and constructive dialogue, across our nation’s education systems and workplaces.
We develop research-based educational tools, resources, and frameworks to equip schools, universities, and workplaces with a shared language and practical set of skills to build inclusive cultures and engage constructively across differences.
Who We Serve
While we began by developing educational tools for use in college classrooms, today, our research powers programs at hundreds of institutions across the country, including universities, high schools, companies, philanthropies, nonprofits, religious communities, and local governments.
Through our work, we seek to strengthen our democracy by helping people recognize our shared humanity, embrace our differences as strengths, and work together to solve collective challenges.
Our Reach
Our goal is to create meaningful impact at scale by promoting constructive dialogue in schools, campuses, and workplaces across the US. To date, we've reached:
20K+
Learners
870+
Institutions
18
States
Our Team
We take a rigorous, science-based approach to building innovative educational tools that promote constructive dialogue.
Key Supporters
