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Harvard negotiator explains how to argue | Dan Shapiro

Big Think

5.8M Views . 2022-10-21

Dan Shapiro, the head of Harvard’s International Negotiation program, shares 3 keys to a better argument. Subscribe to Big Think on YouTube ► https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvQECJukTDE2i6aCoMnS-Vg?sub_confirmation=1 Get smarter, faster with our playlist ► https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5uULy4b0kV6dcSRjedcy3IymBytRT34Q Americans are increasingly falling into the “tribal trap,” according to Dan Shapiro, author of “Negotiating the Nonnegotiable: How to Resolve Your Most Emotionally Charged Conflicts.” The tribal trap often centers on politics. Those ensnared in it will do anything they can to shut down the other side in an effort to prove that their side is right, just, and the only way forward. But from abortion to immigration, the problem is often not what we’re arguing about, it’s how. So, how can we have more productive conversations? In this Big Think interview, Shapiro uses his negotiating expertise to outline several strategies to escape the tribal trap and communicate effectively, including understanding the core values of the other side, listening intently to what they’re saying, conveying that you understand what they’re saying, and finding common ground. Get Dan Shapiro's book, “Negotiating the Nonnegotiable: How to Resolve Your Most Emotionally Charged Conflicts” ► https://www.amazon.com/Negotiating-Nonnegotiable-Resolve-Emotionally-Conflicts/dp/0143110179/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr= Read the video transcript ► https://bigthink.com/personal-growth/harvard-negotiator-explains-how-to-argue ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- About Dan Shapiro: The founder and director of the Harvard International Negotiation Program, Daniel Shapiro teaches a highly evaluated course on negotiation at Harvard College; instructs psychology interns at Harvard Medical School/McLean Hospital; and leads executive education sessions at the Program on Negotiation at Harvard Law School, Harvard Kennedy School, and Harvard Medical School/McLean Hospital. He also has served on the faculty at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University, and at the Sloan School of Management at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He is author of Negotiating the Nonnegotiable, which Matthew Bishop of the Economist Group called “quite simply, the best book I have ever read on negotiating in situations of extreme conflict.” He also is coauthor with Roger Fisher of the negotiation classic “Beyond Reason: Using Emotions as You Negotiate.” ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Read more of our stories on negotiation: What is tactical empathy and how can it help in negotiations at work? ► https://bigthink.com/smart-skills/tactical-empathy-work-negotiations/ 5 laws for leaders who want to build trust ► https://bigthink.com/plus/5-laws-for-leaders-who-want-to-build-trust/ Theory of mind: What chess and drug dealers can teach you about manipulation ► https://bigthink.com/neuropsych/chess-theory-of-mind-manipulation/ About Big Think | Smarter Faster™ ► Big Think The leading source of expert-driven, educational content. With thousands of videos, featuring experts ranging from Bill Clinton to Bill Nye, Big Think helps you get smarter, faster by exploring the big ideas and core skills that define knowledge in the 21st century. ► Big Think+ Make your business smarter, faster: https://bigthink.com/plus/ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Want more Big Think? ► Daily editorial features: https://bigthink.com/popular/ ► Get the best of Big Think right to your inbox: https://bigthink.com/st/newsletter ► Facebook: https://bigth.ink/facebook ► Instagram: https://bigth.ink/Instagram ► Twitter: https://bigth.ink/twitter

The speaker introduces the importance of effective conflict resolution and identifies three key barriers to productive arguments: identity, appreciation, and affiliation. They emphasize that conflict often stems from a threatened sense of identity, causing emotional reactions, and advocate for understanding and appreciating the other side's perspective.

conflict resolution
identity
appreciation
affiliation

  • The speaker argues that the issue is not what we are arguing about but how we argue, highlighting the need for more effective communication.
  • The speaker identifies three key barriers to effective communication in conflict: identity, appreciation, and affiliation.

Insights from the YouTube Video Script:

1. Beyond the "What": The Power of "How" in Conflict

This script highlights a key insight: the "how" of conflict resolution is more important than the "what." While the subject of the disagreement matters, the speaker argues that the manner in which we engage in the conflict holds the real key to finding a resolution. This speaks to the importance of communication and empathy in navigating difficult conversations.

2. Identity as a Fuel for Emotional Conflict

The script reveals how deeply personal conflicts can become when our sense of identity is threatened. When we feel our core values and beliefs are under attack, our emotions escalate, and the conflict shifts from a discussion of ideas to

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