Ep. 29: Thanksgiving Special with Kurt Gray on Outrage

In this episode of ‘We Made This Political,’ hosts Lura Forcum and Lauren Hall talk with Kurt Gray, author of ‘Outraged.’ They explore strategies for managing political conversations with family during Thanksgiving, emphasizing the importance of connection, curiosity, and validation to prevent conflict. The conversation delves into the social psychology of outrage, the impact of tribalism, and practical tips for maintaining calm and constructive dialogue during the holiday season.00:00 Introduction and Opening Thoughts00:36 Meet the Hosts and Guest01:43 Introducing Kurt Gray and His Work02:54 Handling Political Conversations with Family04:46 The Role of Curiosity in Conversations08:22 Physiological Responses to Outrage15:24 Parenting and Managing Big Feelings17:17 The Importance of Validation in Conversations21:07 Legitimate Outrage vs. Reactive Outrage26:16 Perceptions of Harm and Moral Condemnation30:24 Setting Ground Rules for Difficult Conversations31:29 The Importance of Beginnings31:51 Communication Patterns in Families32:16 Mark Rober’s Friendly Car Horn33:06 Social Engineering and Road Rage34:05 The Power of Asking Questions35:31 Parenting and Moral Emotions37:00 Relinquishing the Self in Conversations38:05 Navigating Anger and De-escalation42:18 Tribalism and Affective Polarization47:50 Practical Tips for Holiday Conversations59:37 Optimism in One-on-One Interactions01:01:56 Conclusion and Where to Find More This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wemadethispolitical.substack.com