[Go to site: main page, start]
Defusing American Anger: A depolarization endeavor

Defusing American Anger: A depolarization endeavor

Home
Notes
Archive
About
"When I first saw your work, I rolled my eyes." On skepticism about reducing us-vs-them thinking.
Serious conflict inevitably leads to a widespread instinct to scoff at conflict-reduction efforts. To escape the toxic conflict spiral, we must see that…
 • Zachary Elwood
Working on a new book about reading people
Do you have interesting stories from your life or job of reading people and making useful deductions?
 • Zachary Elwood
I work on reducing political contempt — and yet I have contempt for Trump. Is that a contradiction?
Polarization means there will be much contempt and anger. The question is what we do with those feelings.
 • Zachary Elwood
Learn how news platform Aemula hopes to reduce polarization
A visual demo of Aemula from its visionary creator Don Templeman
 • Zachary Elwood
Groups in conflict inevitably have differences. Recognizing this can lower our contempt.
This is not a chess game; groups have different ways of moving.
 • Zachary Elwood
A Short Course for Navigating and Defusing Toxic Conflict
Resources for those who wish to disagree and advocate in healthier, less polarizing ways or mediate others' toxic conflicts
 • Zachary Elwood
Like my polarization work? Vote for me in this essay contest
Contest ends at midnight tonight; appreciate your help
 • Zachary Elwood
Defusing American Anger: A depolarization endeavor
Defusing American Anger: A depolarization endeavor
Thoughts for people interested in reducing political toxicity and us-vs-them thinking. By Zachary Elwood, author of "Defusing American Anger" and "How Contempt Destroys Democracy," and host of the psych podcast People Who Read People.
Recommendations
View all 21
Aemula
Aemula
Aemula
More in Common US Newsletter
More in Common US Newsletter
More in Common US
Stoic Street Smarts
Stoic Street Smarts
Ed Latimore
Never Close the Inquiry
Never Close the Inquiry
Nick Hagen
Beyond Intractability
Beyond Intractability
Heidi and Guy Burgess

Defusing American Anger: A depolarization endeavor

AboutArchiveRecommendationsSitemap
© 2026 Zachary Elwood · Privacy ∙ Terms ∙ Collection notice
Start your SubstackGet the app
Substack is the home for great culture
    This site requires JavaScript to run correctly. Please turn on JavaScript or unblock scripts