by Heather Opie, Keaton Lyle, Jillian Farrish, Caleb Divers, and Jonathan Dennis – Student design and facilitation team
Note: As part of a class on facilitating productive conversations in the School of Communication Studies at James Madison University, this student team designed and facilitated an intergenerational dialogue in Fall 2023.
Most people’s initial reaction when approaching the topic of politics in a group setting, let alone ‘political divisiveness,’ is usually nothing short of disdain or apprehension. It’s certainly enough to cast a pall over family dinners, parties, or any other form of social gathering. The aim in our group facilitation session, however, was to achieve the impossible; create and sustain a productive dialogue about the state of divisiveness in our nation’s political landscape. Couldn’t be easier, right? Our facilitation included students of JMU enrolled in a cultural communications course, and members of the Lifelong Learning Institute – mainly retired individuals seeking experiences for continued learning. Taking into consideration the variety of perspectives and generational differences these participants would contribute, was another important lens we used when developing our facilitation process.
How are we being Impacted, and How Can We Reshape It?
In the current landscape of our nation, there are a seemingly endless number of factors contributing to this sense of political divisiveness that lingers among us: media bias and framing, social media, confirmation bias, individual perspectives, societal stereotypes, and the list goes on. This pressure we often feel to conform to political stereotypes further separates our voices and intensifies feelings of exclusion. We intended to help others thoughtfully navigate these aspects while straying away from individualized or specific political opinions. Our focus was clear: understanding firstly how this divide emerged, the repercussions it has on all of us, and most importantly, how we might shape a more cohesive narrative.
Takeaways from the participants
Many participants acknowledged the need to put aside personal biases and listen to diverse viewpoints, recognizing the importance of engaging in this types of dialogue to bridge the nation’s political gap. Despite some of their expressed initial concerns about the conversation resulting in argument or contention, the participants expressed a desire to dive deeper into these solution-oriented conversations. The session ended with a resounding call from all parties for continued conversations like these as a tool to navigate and weather the storm of political divisiveness.
Lifelong Learners, drawing from their life experiences, discussed the dramatic change of news sources and the current struggle to find trustworthy information today. The information they shared highlighted some historical fluctuations in political unity, revealing how these cycles impacted societal cohesion. One sentiment that rang true amongst all the participants was the detrimental effect of social media on creating these divides, with its confusing spread of information blurring the lines between fact and opinion. They unanimously agreed that action needs to be taken to address how social media plays a role in creating these divisions. The participants also discussed the importance of respecting diverse perspectives and fostering a deeper sense of national unity despite ideological differences. Amid concerns about media integrity and consumption bias, generational disparities in media habits emerged, prompting reflections on how platforms like TikTok shape perceptions and contribute to political polarization.
Takeaways of our Own
It was truly remarkable to experience such a positive and collaborative atmosphere among all the participants. Something that stood out to us was the curiosity between the different generations, each wanting to hear the others’ unique perspectives on how our nation’s political landscape has changed over time. Our experience as designers and facilitators emphasized the importance of thoughtful questions, respectful exchanges, and keeping an open mind in fostering genuine and impactful discussions. Despite our initial hesitation about the topic, we were also relieved to witness participants engaging in dialogue without spiraling into arguments, another example of the potential for constructive conversations on sensitive topics like political divisiveness. Witnessing mutual learning between these different generations was inspiring. We are incredibly thankful to have had such an immersive and comprehensive opportunity, and our time shared with the members from the Lifelong Learning Institute, and fellow SCOM students, has been one we have learned deeply from and will not soon forget.