Of Note: The Part We All Play

High Conflict: Why We Get Trapped and How We Get Out by Amanda Ripley
Simon & Schuster, January 1, 2021

While disagreement is natural and can even be fruitful, in her book High Conflict: Why We Get Trapped and How We Get Out, Amanda Ripley emphasizes the negative consequences of us-vs.-them thinking that can escalate rather than mitigate violence. Through the use of different real-life narratives involving environmentalists, lawyers, politicians, mediators, former gang members, religious leaders, and more, Ripley repeatedly demonstrates the importance of recognizing and interrupting high conflict, which she defines as self-perpetuating and all-consuming discord. To recognize (and therefore interrupt) high conflict, Ripley advises us to listen carefully for “sweeping, grandiose, or violent language” and to look out for “rumors, myths, or conspiracy theories.” If the conflict seems to “have its own momentum” and causes others to withdraw, “leading to the appearance of just two binary extremes,” chances are good that the situation needs immediate and intentional de-escalation. As impactful as noticing high conflict in the world can be, Ripley argues, it is even more important to notice it in ourselves and strive instead for the behaviors and feelings associated with “good conflict,” humility, fluidity, curiosity, non-zero-sum thinking, solution-seeking, and feelings of sadness when bad things happen to the other side. An interdisciplinary reminder of the fundamental power of the golden rule, Ripley’s research points to the part we each play in advancing productive debate and the peaceful exchange of ideas.