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Jordan Peterson On The Art of Conversation (Ep. 428)

Episode Summary

Jordan Peterson On The Art of Conversation: The knuckles clench, the breathing quickens, the face begins to flush. This uncomfortable, aggressive mass begins to move from the stomach up into the chest. What’s happening to me? My body feels so tense and my mind is tinted red with repulsion. Have I been poisoned? No, this is called getting defensive, and it happens to everyone, including me. When we come into contact with an idea that threatens our identity, a physical reaction starts to form. When that happens, we can either explore the new piece of information that caused this reaction or dig deeper into our identity with talons and thrash against it. When choose the latter, we put the importance of preserving our identity over adopting new and better truths. At that point, the conversation is over, and you start to throw up anything like a Hail Mary to prove your point, that I’m right, you’re wrong, and maybe you start to attack the other person’s identity. I don’t have to listen to you because you’re racist or homophobic or whatever, and because I’ve labeled you as toxic, anything you say is toxic. This happens thousands of times per day, maybe millions across the globe. The shutting down of conversation because one or both sides value their preconceived identities over exploring the truth. In a conversation on the Joe Rogan Experience Episode 877, Jordan Peterson explains why it’s so important to stay armed against defensiveness and remain open to the truth.

Episode Notes

Jordan Peterson On The Art of Conversation:

The knuckles clench, the breathing quickens, the face begins to flush. This uncomfortable, aggressive mass begins to move from the stomach up into the chest. What’s happening to me? My body feels so tense and my mind is tinted red with repulsion. Have I been poisoned?

No, this is called getting defensive, and it happens to everyone, including me. When we come into contact with an idea that threatens our identity, a physical reaction starts to form. When that happens, we can either explore the new piece of information that caused this reaction or dig deeper into our identity with talons and thrash against it.

When choose the latter, we put the importance of preserving our identity over adopting new and better truths. At that point, the conversation is over, and you start to throw up anything like a Hail Mary to prove your point, that I’m right, you’re wrong, and maybe you start to attack the other person’s identity. I don’t have to listen to you because you’re racist or homophobic or whatever, and because I’ve labeled you as toxic, anything you say is toxic.

This happens thousands of times per day, maybe millions across the globe. The shutting down of conversation because one or both sides value their preconceived identities over exploring the truth.

In a conversation on the Joe Rogan Experience Episode 877, Jordan Peterson explains why it’s so important to stay armed against defensiveness and remain open to the truth.

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