S33 E3: "High Conflict: Why We Get Trapped and How We Get Out" by Amanda Ripley
Sep 20, 2023
auto_awesome
Amanda Ripley, bestselling author and award-winning journalist, investigates high conflict and how people get trapped in it. She discusses the impacts of high conflict and the conditions that lead to it, as well as the importance of good conflict. Amanda Ripley also explores the intense rivalry between John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, their presidential election, the role of humiliation and rejection, and the efforts of Benjamin Rush to reunite them.
High conflict becomes all-consuming, blinding us to opportunities and causing us to act against our own causes.
The power of conflict interrupters to facilitate reconciliation and conflict resolution.
Deep dives
Understanding High Conflict
High conflict is the type of conflict that becomes all-consuming, blinding us to opportunities and causing us to act against our own causes. It starts small but grows into its own reality, affecting our brains and behavior. The key is to differentiate between high conflict and good conflict, which is heated and stressful but productive and respectful. The podcast explores the concept of high conflict and how it affects individuals and society.
The Four Conditions of High Conflict
The podcast outlines four conditions that tend to lead to high conflict: humiliation, a powerful force that triggers social pain and aggression; third-party involvement, often exacerbating conflicts; saturation points, moments where the misery of high conflict reaches a tipping point, creating an opportunity for intervention; and the role of people outside of the conflict, who can help individuals realize their saturation points and offer support.
A Story of Conflict Interrupted
The podcast recounts the story of John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, two friends turned political rivals. Their conflict escalated due to feelings of humiliation and the influence of third parties. However, years later, a mutual friend, Benjamin Rush, gently encouraged them to reconnect, leading to a renewed correspondence and resolution of their conflict. This narrative highlights the power of conflict interrupters, individuals who can facilitate reconciliation and conflict resolution.
In "High Conflict,"bestselling author and award-winning journalist Amanda Ripley investigates how good people get captured by high conflict—and how they break free.