This event was recorded on 9/6/24 as part of the Taos Institute's free Taos Conversation series.

Since social stereotyping is a common cause of discrimination, oppression, and objectification, what might happen if we explore its opposite?

Human identities are multi-dimensional, context dependent, and socially constructed. Stereotyping manipulates identities by grouping people according to presumed similarities. How does relationship development proceed when the focus shifts to individualizing rather than grouping and identifying both similarities and differences?

Published accounts of transformative conversations reveal how empathizing also exploits similarities, but to identify common ground, which often positions partners to move beyond empathizing to co-construct unique identities. The closest personal and professional relationships display some version of “She’s the one,” co-constructed identity understandings like “He’s the smartest, most capable person I’ve ever met,” “That company best complements what we’re doing in this market,” or “I can’t imagine spending my life with anyone else.” Conversation partners co-construct uniquenesses like these when they offer and invite reflections, choices, and feelings.

This conversation invites academics, clinicians, and members of communities of practice to collaborate in the Beyond Empathy Project, a multidimensional, long-term effort to learn and apply the conversational skill of co-constructing uniquenesses.

Taos Conversations are informal, interactive, stimulating, free, and open to all. For more events and resources on social construction, join the Taos Institute Commons online community (free) at www.taosinstitutecommons.com.

The Taos Institute is a non-profit educational organization. We strive to make our programs and resources accessible to as many people as possible around the world. Please consider making a donation to support our mission of creating promising futures through social construction. www.taosinstitute.net/donate

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