Whether it’s picking out a box of cereal from the grocery aisle or deciding which sources to get our information from, we make all kinds of choices every day. This article suggests that having all these choices may ultimately have a negative impact on society.
Category Archives: Ourselves and Others
‘Going with the Crowd’ Causes Us to Make the Wrong Choices
While it’s often important to get along with others, we sometimes follow the crowd at the expense of common sense.
The Pandemic Has Shaken Students’ Sense of Themselves
How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected young people and their sense of how they fit into society?
What We Owe Each Other
A social contract is an implied agreement among the people of a society about the rules that define their government. The author of this piece believes it’s time to establish new social contracts to replace systems that aren’t working well anymore.
What the ‘Lyme wars’ can teach us about COVID-19 and how to find common ground in the school reopening debate
Lyme disease, which people get from tick bites, is a subject of controversy in the medical field. What can we learn from this controversy that might help people deal with disagreements about COVID-19 and reopening schools?
Coronavirus: How can society thrive post-pandemic?
How has COVID-19 affected our connections with one other? What other questions should we be asking about how society should move forward from the pandemic? Click this link to read what a diverse group of experts think.
How social media turns online arguments between teenagers into real-world violence
What role does social media play in creating conflict in our society? This article explains how online disagreements can lead to violence in real life.
Conflict Resolution Skills
The most you can control in any conflict is one side—your own. Learn ways to manage your emotions and use approaches that will help you work toward resolving conflicts with other people.
Need to Dust Off Your Social Skills?
This article provides some advice for re-learning the social skills we may have lost during the many isolating months of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The pandemic has shown the flaws of American individualism
Many Americans firmly believe that individuals should be independent and self-reliant. But the author of this commentary argues that too much individualism can lead to tyranny rather than freedom.
For America to Succeed, We Must Find Common Ground
The author of this article points out that humans are more successful when they cooperate. He urges Americans to unite under our nation’s flag, in spite of political differences.
Healing the political divide
This article examines the reasons for the current level of political division in the United States and considers how we might go about trying to improve the situation.
Many Black and Asian Americans Say They Have Experienced Discrimination Amid the COVID-19 Outbreak
According to a survey conducted by the Pew Research Center, Asian and Black Americans are experiencing racism and discrimination more frequently than they did prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Click this link to learn more about the results of the survey.
Dare to Disagree
Constructive conflict fuels progress far better than passive agreement does. Learn how great ideas and strong results can stem from disagreement.
The surprising downsides of empathy
Empathy—the ability to understand the feelings of others—is an important aspect of emotional intelligence. However, the author of this piece suggests that empathy can have negative effects. Click the link to learn more.
Emotional Intelligence
Check out this link for some information on developing emotional intelligence, which includes skills like being aware of your own emotions as well as understanding how others are feeling.
Revisiting Ursula K. Le Guin’s Novella About Interplanetary Racism
Notable science fiction author Ursula K. Le Guin wrote a novella about a far-off world that reflects the history of racism and colonization on our own planet. Click here to see graphic novelist Ben Passmore’s rendering of this story.
At 16, Coco Gauff’s voice is already as strong as her serve
Coco Gauff—the youngest player ranked in the top 100 by the Women’s Tennis Association—says we are all responsible for the fight against racism.
Why Twitter Influences Cross-Cultural Engagement
Studies find that Americans increasingly segregate themselves, living and working mostly with people from similar backgrounds who hold similar beliefs. However, Twitter serves as a powerful tool for bringing together very different people and allowing them to share diverse viewpoints.
How common threats can make common (political) ground
It’s popular to say that Americans are more politically polarized now than they have been in years. But we can band together to tackle the problems we all agree exist.