Exploring the Roots of Our Ideological Differences is a two-hour, highly interactive workshop that combines research, reflection, and practical exercises to explore what drives ideological differences and why disagreements can escalate so quickly.
Participants examine the psychology behind belief formation, group division, and moral conflict to better understand how beliefs are formed, how we argue, and why disagreements can spiral. The workshop explores how moral beliefs are formed, why people often misunderstand those who see the world differently, and what it takes to begin bridging those divides.
Participants leave with practical tools for listening for values and engaging constructively in dialogue across differences.
A basic introduction to the key mindsets behind constructive dialogue
A workshop to develop alignment with stakeholder groups
Focus on dialogue, inquiry, and free expression
Workshop Format
Exploring the Roots of Our Ideological Differences is offered as a private in-person workshop for students.
Length: 2 hours
Format: Live, in person
Delivery: Delivered in-person in conjunction with another program
The workshop combines research insights, structured dialogue practice, and applied facilitation techniques.
You Should Attend This Program if You Are
- A campus community beginning to build a shared language around dialogue and disagreement
- A student with limited prior exposure to dialogue frameworks or moral psychology
- An organization looking to surface why disagreements escalate before moving to skills-based dialogue training
Concepts Covered
Understand how our fast, intuitive thinking and slower, more deliberate reasoning both shape our judgments, decisions, and conversations.
Common Use Cases
- Introduce constructive dialogue to students
- Kick-off programming for campus-wide discourse or civil dialogue efforts
- Introductory program prior to more advanced offerings or longer-term CDI partnerships
By the end of this program, participants will:
- Understand the psychology behind how the brain shapes what we believe, how we argue, and why this can lead disagreements to spiral
- Learn how moral beliefs are shaped, why we misjudge people who see the world differently, and what it takes to start to bridge those divides
Every second was useful and not just filler content.
I really felt like we kept moving and that every second was useful and not just filler content. It was at an appropriate and not reductive level for us as law students and in a way that we can practically use.
I think the program is good to help keep certain things in mind for student leaders. A lot of people may initially think that these things are obvious, but it’s always good to refresh them.
Every second was useful and not just filler content.
I really felt like we kept moving and that every second was useful and not just filler content. It was at an appropriate and not reductive level for us as law students and in a way that we can practically use.
I think the program is good to help keep certain things in mind for student leaders. A lot of people may initially think that these things are obvious, but it’s always good to refresh them.
