areyoureadytotalk-research

Relevant Research

The Are You Ready To Talk? toolkit is made up of exercises that many practitioners use, but that researchers have not yet formally evaluated. Social psychological research suggests that these activities will bring about the changes necessary for people to have and lead discussions about difference. Below we describe how and why each of the four activities in this toolkit will likely help prepare people to talk about their differences.

The Passions, Awareness, Skills, and Knowledge Inventory (PASK)

Pioneering social psychologist Albert Bandura has shown that people persist at the tasks they feel they will likely succeed at (Bandura, 1982). This belief in possible success is called self-efficacy. By helping people reflect on the strengths they already possess, the PASK probably increases people’s sense of self-efficacy in undertaking discussions about difference. We predict, in turn, that when people believe they can have or lead discussions about difference, they are more likely to excel at them.

The PASK measures not only people’s existing strengths, but also their areas for improvement. In this way, the PASK may also promote cultural humility, which means both respecting and not having a sense of superiority toward other people’s cultural backgrounds (Hook, et. al, 2013).

The Identities Map

To relate to other people’s backgrounds, it helps to understand your own (Markus & Conner, 2014). The Identities Map lists nine social identity dimensions and asks users to select the ones they claim for themselves. The map then encourages users to consider which identities give them status, power, and privilege, and which identities subject them to bias, discrimination, and marginalization. By making people aware of their and other people’s unique mix of backgrounds, the Identities Map is likely to enhance both self-awareness and cultural humility. Having more self-awareness and cultural humility, in turn, is associated with having better conversations with people different from yourself.

The Hot Buttons Worksheet

Discussions about difference can stir up difficult feelings. The Hot Buttons Worksheet helps people anticipate which topics, stories, words, and other stimuli will trigger strong emotions in them. The worksheet then helps people develop a plan of action for managing these emotions in the future. We anticipate that using the hot buttons worksheet can help people develop the emotional intelligence to control and express their emotions while also perceiving and responding to others’ emotions. Researchers find that the more emotional intelligence people have, the better they navigate difficult conversations (Salovey & Mayer, 1990).

The LARA Method

Use LARA to manage tense talks. It gives four concrete steps for building and maintaining respect and common ground with a conversation partner: Listen, Affirm your similarities, Respond, and Ask Questions (or Add Information). With its focus on respect and relationship, the LARA is likely to encourage both cultural humility and emotional intelligence.

See Also

Higher Ed Diversity and Inclusion Toolkits Collection

Beyond the Line toolkit

Fishbowl Discussions toolkit

References

Bandura, A. (1982). Self-efficacy mechanism in human agency. American Psychologist, 37(2), 122.

Davies, K. A., Lane, A. M., Devonport, Tracey J., & Scott, Jamie A. (2010). Validity and reliability of a Brief Emotional Intelligence Scale (BEIS-10). Journal of Individual Differences, 31(4), 198-208.

Gurin, P., Nagda, B. R. A., & Zuniga, X. (2013). Dialogue across difference: Practice, theory, and research on intergroup dialogue. New York: Russell Sage Foundation.

Hook, J. N., Davis, D. E., Owen, J., Worthington Jr, E. L., & Utsey, S. O. (2013). Cultural humility: Measuring openness to culturally diverse clients. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 60(3), 353.

Liddle, K. (2009). Despite our differences: Coming out in conservative classrooms. Feminism & Psychology, 19(2), 190-193.

Markus, H.R., & Conner, A.L. (2014). Clash! How to thrive in a multicultural world. New York: Plume.

Nagda, B. R. A., & Gurin, P. (2007). Intergroup dialogue: A critical‐dialogic approach to learning about difference, inequality, and social justice. New Directions for Teaching and Learning, 2007(111), 35-45.

Salovey, P., & Mayer, J. D. (1990). Emotional intelligence. Imagination, Cognition and Personality, 9(3), 185-211.

Tinker, B. (2004).  LARA: Engaging Controversy with a Non-violent, Transformative Response, workshop handout available by request from info@LMFamily.org.