We can be reasonable creatures, but mostly we are reactive ones. We respond emotionally to many cues and triggers in the environment, including the beliefs of other people. If we are to reduce beliefism – discrimination against people with different beliefs to us – then we need to improve our emotional reactions, so that they are fit for purpose. Significantly, stress has been shown to make dichotomous black-and-white thinking more likely. So, whilst a better emotional response will often mean better regulating ourselves, it may sometimes be more appropriate to feel a different (better) set of emotions.
Keep reading with a 7-day free trial
Subscribe to Crystal to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.