How to Embrace Your Political Enemy

A group of University of Pennsylvania students traveled throughout Pennsylvania to listen to people. They approached strangers in shops, on the street, and in many different venues. Their intention was not to change minds, take polls, or listen with an agenda, but to simply listen. One of their professors said: “People can tell when you are listening to them with curiosity, intellectual humility and respect.” They used a framework called three Bs: belief, belonging and behavior. Most people connect on beliefs or belonging. “What we did is put behavior ahead of belief. What if we behave respectfully and interested and we listen to what they say? What if we put that above connecting with them on belief?” One student said, “Empathy truly is a muscle and it can only be exercised when you let yourself bring your guard down and maybe invite an unpredictable response to shared vulnerability.”