In the middle of political differences within family and friend circles, learn how to lead conversations about different ideologies in a safe and respectful way. We spoke with a psychologist who specializes in personal relationships to put together a guide with tips to keep in mind when starting these conversations with the people close to you.
In these days of government transitions, both in Puerto Rico and the United States, politics becomes a recurring topic of conversation in family settings and among friends, something that can create tension. If we don't learn to handle these controversial subjects given the diversity of opinions, arguments and misunderstandings can end up fracturing the family unit.
Dr. Marcos García, a psychological counselor specializing in families and addiction at the Instituto de Desarrollo Integral y Evaluación in Caguas, points out that "people handle differences poorly and, as a result, topics related to religion and politics tend to be among those that create the most tension and division."
In family settings, some members may have a broader knowledge of these subjects and, in the heat of an argument, can make those who don't handle political topics as easily feel diminished or overwhelmed. According to Dr. García, it is important to understand that families contain a diversity of thought and that this should not be a reason for separation, since "things and topics cannot be more important than people."
Because of this, when navigating these complex subjects, it is important to keep in mind that the dignity of the human being matters more than their beliefs or political and religious creeds.
There are 4 keys to handling these topics with your family:
Encourage family gatherings
Protect the family bond
Set boundaries around these topics
Practice the exercise of tolerance
For Dr. García, families need to cultivate these spaces for coming together more, even rehearsing or practicing how to handle these topics, making sure the family bond and mutual respect endure.
For her part, Mariana Torres, spokesperson for Somos Más, said in the fourth episode of our podcast Punto Aparte that approaching the discussion of these topics should always be done "keeping in mind that, beyond a personal agenda, it's about how we can help each other as a people to keep moving forward toward improvement."
For her part, Aliana Bigio, founder of con.sentimientos.pr, says the key is "addressing people's fears and concerns with respect." According to Bigio, those concerns come from each individual's needs and feelings, and a person's vote does not make them any less intelligent.
What matters most to Bigio is listening to people's fears, addressing them, and having these difficult conversations while offering new options and opportunities, and setting mockery aside.
How does political fanaticism affect families?
Political fanaticism destroys family environments. "Fanaticism is blind," Dr. García pointed out. "The fanatic believes they hold the absolute truth," he added.
The fanatic does not consider other opinions or truths, which makes the communication process more challenging and tense.
Using social media without proper precautions can make this kind of behavior worse. The mental health professional considered that social media can increase fanaticism in people who consume only content that reinforces what they regard as their level of understanding, which they place above that of others.
Adding to this, the spread of misinformation online is also a challenge. "One of the challenges with social media is that (many) people, if they see something posted, take it as truth," the doctor said, pointing to the importance of verifying information with reliable and trustworthy sources.
García advised families to always remember to "be family above all differences," even when that is a challenge for healthy coexistence.
This content was translated with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
