Beyond Polarization

Abstract

When people speak and write about abortion, or any other polarized issue, they typically deliver arguments geared to please those who agree with them and to persuade those who are uncommitted to come over to their “side.” Rarely do people with opposing views speak or write in a respectful tone or show interest in understanding the perspective of the other. In this E-mail exchange, two therapists, one pro-choice and one pro-life, engage in a respectful dialogue about abortion, using a series of questions developed by the Public Conversations Project.