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New Book Analyzes 'High Conflict' Of Divisive Political Issues

In this Dec. 4, 2018, file photo, birds fly past a smoking chimney in Ludwigshafen, Germany. Development that’s led to loss of habitat, climate change, overfishing, pollution and invasive species is causing a biodiversity crisis, scientists say in a new United Nations science report released Monday, May 6, 2019.
Michael Probst / AP
In this Dec. 4, 2018, file photo, birds fly past a smoking chimney in Ludwigshafen, Germany. Development that’s led to loss of habitat, climate change, overfishing, pollution and invasive species is causing a biodiversity crisis, scientists say in a new United Nations science report released Monday, May 6, 2019.
A new book by journalist and author Amanda Ripley takes aim at how discourse surrounding controversial topics can become toxic.

From climate change to the pandemic, divisive political discord surrounds some of the most pressing issues facing the world today.

The way these issues evolve from initially straightforward problems to deeply politicized arguments can lead to what's called "high conflict."

It's a term that journalist and author Amanda Ripley uses to describe how the discussion surrounding important issues can become toxic, which is explored in her latest book "High Conflict: Why We Get Trapped and How We Get Out."

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"High conflict stops being about the thing it seems to be about, and it usually is about fear, humiliation, a desire to belong, and to make sense of a world that doesn't feel like it makes sense," Ripley said.

She joined Midday Edition on Monday to discuss the high conflict surrounding some of the world's most pressing issues, and why common ground on these topics is so rare.