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Quiz: Civil Discourse

November 24, 2019

Are you equipped to have conversations this holiday season that are both productive and respectful? Test your knowledge to find out.

When it comes to talking politics with people we disagree with, Americans are split. About ________ find it to be stressful and frustrating, while _________ find it to be interesting and informative.*
- One-third; two-thirds
- Half; half
- Two-thirds; one-third
- Almost everyone finds it stressful and frustrating.
In a recent poll, how many voters said they believed “compromise and common ground should be the goal for political leaders”?*
- Three in ten
- Five in ten
- Eight in ten
- Nine in ten
In a 2019 poll, were Democrats or Republicans more likely to say they would be unhappy if their child married someone from the opposite political party?*
- Democrats
- Republicans
Less than half of Americans say political debate has become less respectful in recent years.*
- True
- False
Dr. Peter Coleman, an expert in conflict resolution, says that roughly _____ percent of disputes – from workplace disagreements to international conflicts – are ultimately resolved amicably.*
- 65 percent
- 75 percent
- 85 percent
- 95 percent
In Dr. Coleman’s lab, his research team conducts experiments where two people with opposing views read a nuanced article with different perspectives on a divisive issue, then have a discussion. Coleman says that exposure to arguments that aren’t black-or-white ____________ change people’s minds.*
- Rarely
- Sometimes
- Often
- Almost always
Psychologist George Kohlreiser says that in contentious conversations, people crave a sense of protection and fulfillment that comes with certainty, also called _____________.*
- Narrative logic
- Knowledge mindset
- Secure base
- Emotional touchstone
A 2017 study found that people are more likely to think an opposing viewpoint is “stupid” if they read it than if they hear someone argue it in person.*
- True
- False
Talking about our opinions and lives activates the same reward centers in the brain as:*
- Food
- Money
- Sex
- All of the above
It’s Thanksgiving, you’re with your family, and you’ve accidentally made an incendiary political statement. The Emily Post Institute recommends you:*
- Excuse yourself for the duration of the meal
- Remind another guest that he/she made a similar faux pas last year
- Acknowledge that it’s just your opinion
- Say you had too much to drink

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