A Mental Health Counselor on Psychology in Debate (with Robin Atkins)

Jen WestmorelandPodcast

Two boys fighting over a teddy bear

Download MP3 | 1:01:26

Robin Atkins is back to discuss psychology in debate. Robin is a licensed mental health counselor, specializing in reproductive issues. She also has a philosophy degree. She spent four years doing home-based therapy with the Department of Children’s Services. She’s a pro-life advocate with an atypical perspective on some of the issues surrounding abortion.

Chapters:

  • 00:00 Introduction
  • 02:00 Defining communication
  • 03:44 Navigating debates, in-person and online
  • 05:53 Clarifying the labels “speaker” vs “listener”
  • 08:25 How do you help someone who is constantly offended by the other side?
  • 13:36 Ideology-driven vs. topic-driven debate
  • 17:31 How do you get past people’s defenses?
  • 20:03 Should our primary goal be to change minds?
  • 24:49 Timing and empathy matters
  • 26:27 On anecdotal evidence and miscarriage
  • 31:54 On benevolent trolling and the use of snark
  • 43:31 When is it time to end an unproductive conversation?
  • 47:25 If self-awareness is important, how can people who aren’t self-aware discover and work on that?
  • 49:11 Why is civil discourse so low right now, and what can do we about that?44
  • 59:27 What is it you’d like people to take from the “Unoffendable” book?

Related Links:

Listen to our first episode with Robin, on adoption vs. foster care vs. abortion:
https://youtu.be/yChl-sReTP0
or

Contact Robin @TruthAgape on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/truthagape

Dialogue Tip: Tell Them That They Can’t Offend You:

We referenced our mutual friend Petra Wallenmeyer who is now a writing intern at ERI, as well as the Content Director for the Human Defense Initiative. Read her articles here:

Our first Humor in Dialogue podcast:
https://youtu.be/bCLQ1A2yxBg

A Comedian Shares Tips for Using Humor in Dialogue:
https://youtu.be/QVY-Fx8DTbM

Should Pro-Lifers be Snarky? (with Dank Pro-Life Memes)
https://youtu.be/dy6_6ktel2c

Charisma on Command YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/user/charismaoncommand

Brant Hanson’s book, “Unoffendable: How Just One Change Can Make All of Life Better”:
https://amzn.to/3vyJSbI