Bridging the Divide: Effective Political Communication in a Polarized World
The Caltech Y Social Activism Speaker Series Presents:
Bridging the Divide: Effective Political Communication in a Polarized World
A talk by Prof. Robb Willer, Professor of Sociology at Stanford
Friday | May 12th | 12:00 Noon to 1:30pm | Steele 102 | Lunch is provided, spaces are limited
RSVP Required: https://goo.gl/forms/eSNopwBkx4AeUmEY2
There will be a break for people with 1 pm classes to leave
There will also be a smaller group session from 3-4pm which will give people more of a chance to interact directly with Prof. Willer and ask him in depth questions. Please indicate on the RSVP if you'd like to attend this. Spaces are limited and priority will be given to students.
The Caltech Y Social Activism Speaker Series is hosting the second event in its Bridging the Divide series with Robb Willer, professor of sociology at Stanford.
Attitude polarization and intergroup antagonism threaten democratic processes in a number of ways. Though political animosity in the U.S. has reached record levels, research on the social psychology of American politics suggests techniques for effective political communication and action. In particular, moral arguments - carefully crafted fit to the values of a given audience - offer one path to political persuasion and coalition formation. Prof. Willer will present his work on these topics and take your questions.
Robb Willer is a professor of sociology, psychology and organizational behavior at Stanford University. His research shows how moral values, typically a source of ideological division, can also be used to bring people together. His research has investigated various topics, including economic inequality, racial prejudice, Americans' views of climate change, and the effects of different protest tactics. He has won numerous awards for his teaching and research, including the Golden Apple Teaching Award, the only award given by UC-Berkeley's student body. Willer's writing has appeared in the New York Times, Washington Post, Vox, and Scientific American, including his op-eds "The Secret to Political Persuasion" and "Is the Environment a Moral Cause?"