"One of the best ways to begin a more constructive political discussion is to learn someone's personal story. When we make an effort to get to know, in detail, about someone's life, we will almost always find some common experience or shared value, even with people whose opinions are antithetical to our own. If we want to understand someone's opinions, we should listen to their stories."
"Stories have an emotional appeal and a truth value that ideas often lack. Stories are, to some extent, unarguable. We do not often change (or open) our minds when we are exposed to different opinions and ideas. Ideas begin with stories, and when we are uncertain about what to think, we instinctively return to the stories that are the source of our ideas."
Understanding political opinions requires listening to people's personal stories, because stories reveal the formative experiences, anxieties, frustrations, and values that shape beliefs. Detailed knowledge of someone's life often uncovers shared experiences or common values even with those holding antithetical opinions. Stories carry emotional force and a truth value that abstract ideas often lack, making them less arguable and more likely to anchor thinking. People frequently return to underlying stories when uncertain about ideas. Recognizing universal human experiences—family, work, rejection, and pride—softens hostility and affirms dignity, creating the conditions for more constructive political conversation.
Read at Psychology Today
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