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With the U.S. election swiftly approaching, the political divide can feel overwhelming. But what happens when we recognize the limits of our knowledge?\xa0

Link to episode transcript: https://tinyurl.com/83a5wbkp\xa0

Episode Summary

When we internally acknowledge the limits of our knowledge, we create space to engage with other points of view. Allowing new perspectives in can help us better assess arguments, and decrease hubris. We will hear from psychologists Tania Israel and Daryl Van Tongeren about embracing opinions different from our own.

How To Do This Practice

Reflect on an issue you feel strongly about. Ask yourself the following questions when listening to someone\u2019s opinion that differs from your own:

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1. How can other people help me to develop a broader or deeper understanding of this topic?
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2. Whose story isn't being told here?
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3. What's the perspective I'm not seeing?\xa0
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4. Check in with yourself as you're reading the news, are you just saying, \u201cI agree with that perspective\u201d or are there moments in which you can say, \u201cThis challenges me.\u201d
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This episode was supported by a grant from the John Templeton Foundation, as part of our project on \u201cExpanding Awareness of the Science of Intellectual Humility.\u201d To learn more, go to ggsc.berkeley.edu/ih.

Today\u2019s guests:\xa0

Our guest host today is Allison Briscoe-Smith, a psychologist and Senior Fellow at The Greater Good Science Center.

Tania Israel is a psychology professor at UC Santa Barbara and author of the new book Facing the Fracture: How to Navigate the Challenges of Living in a Divided Nation.

Daryl Van Tongeren is a psychology professor at Hope College and author of the book Humble: Free Yourself from the Traps of a Narcissistic World.

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• Learn more about Allison Briscoe-Smith: https://tinyurl.com/p3eexvkf\n
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• Take BerkeleyX: Bridging Differences by Allison Briscoe-Smith: https://tinyurl.com/58z9vmvb\n
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• Read Facing the Fracture: How to Navigate the Challenges of Living in a Divided Nation, by Tania Israel: https://tinyurl.com/yeyw7k6j\n
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• Read Humble: Free Yourself from the Traps of a Narcissistic World, by Daryl Van Tongeren: https://www.darylvantongeren.com/books
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Direct message us or leave a comment on Instagram @scienceofhappinesspod. You can also e-mail us at happinesspod@berkeley.edu or use the hashtag #happinesspod.

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