Courses

When we encounter views that challenge our own, the brain can quickly shift into a defensive “protect mode,” prioritizing certainty over curiosity, connection, and openness to new ideas. This interactive course explores the neuroscience and psychology behind these reactions while teaching thoughtful approaches to communication in polarized environments. Through lectures, discussions, guided exercises, and role-play scenarios, students will examine how emotion and stress shape conversation and decision-making. We’ll explore how trust forms in the brain, including the roles of cortisol and oxytocin, and practice techniques such as tactical empathy, strategic questioning, and the “double-click” method for moving beyond labels and entrenched disagreement. Designed for anyone exhausted by the “loud attack” or “quiet retreat” so common in modern discourse, the course offers practical tools for navigating difficult conversations with greater composure, understanding, and confidence.