Intergroup dialogue

Method

Goals

Intergroup dialogue is intended to build relationships amongst participants with different social identities through the use of personal storytelling, empathetic listening and interpersonal inquiry. It integrates three core educational goals: "consciousness raising, building relationships across differences and conflicts, and strengthening individual and collective capacities to promote social justice". Intergroup dialogue distinguishes its approach from other dialogic methods such as debate and discussion:

• Debate aims to clarify pros and cons of issues, to develop critical thinking skills.
• Discussion aims to generate different perspectives on issues, to consider decisions among different options.
• Intergroup dialogue aims to increase critical self-awareness and social awareness, to increase intergroup communication, understanding and collaborative actions.

Characteristics

The following table contrasts the characteristics of debate, discussion, and dialogue:

Multi-partiality

Intergroup dialogue draws the work of Paulo Freire whose work focuses on consciousness raising, a process through which members of an oppressed group come to understand the history and circumstances of their oppression. Intergroup dialogue further aims to raise the consciousness of all participants, including those from advantaged and disadvantaged groups, through the use of multi-partial facilitation. This approach was developed by Janet Rifkin, professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, as a method of conflict resolution, and was adopted by the Program on Intergroup Relations at the University of Michigan as a method of facilitating dialogue across difference of social identity.

A multi-partial approach to facilitation differs from both a neutral or impartial approach, as well as a model in which the facilitator acts as an advocate, such as in many feminist models. Multi-partial facilitation posits the presence of "dominant narratives" within dialogue, or sets of assumptions and beliefs based on socialization and cultural values. If the facilitator were to be impartial and neutral in moments of conflict between dialogue participants, the dominant narrative would affirm the experiences and voices of the dominant group members and further marginalize the experience of marginalized participants. A multi-partial facilitation approach differs from facilitator-advocate approaches in that it is equally invested in the participation and growth of all dialogue participants; it encourages self-reflection and awareness through engagement rather than direct confrontation, an approach based on the belief that "people who are not feeling threatened are more open to discussing their feelings and interests and are more open to discussing the effects the conflict is having on both groups". Rather than directly confronting a group member's bias, a multi-partial facilitator points out the dominant narrative when evidence of it arises, and encourages group members to share their experiences, while simultaneously encouraging a critical analysis of the underlying assumptions and narratives at play.

Counseling psychologist Derald Wing Sue said that instructors who have not done the work of reflecting on themselves racially or culturally tend to be poor facilitators of discussions about race. Gaining critical racial consciousness through self-exploration, as well as exploration of the experiences of other racial groups, is a prerequisite for claiming an antiracist stance and for successfully leading race talks, according to Sue. According to education professor Ximena Zúñiga, the number one competency for facilitators—alongside small-group leadership skills—is having a deep understanding of their own social identities as well as the social identities of others.

In secondary schools and colleges

Universities worldwide offer intergroup dialogue programs to their students. Intergroup dialogue programs are frequently launched as part of larger campus diversity and social justice initiatives seeking to address tensions and conflict related to social identity, most centrally, race. Campuses vary in their approach to intergroup dialogue, "tailor[ing] to the specific needs of the campus, school, academic department or student affairs unit that it serves". Dialogue groups are generally housed in on-campus organizations or academic departments, included as course offerings in social work, sociology, psychology, American studies, peace and conflict studies and education. Students enrolled in intergroup dialogue coursework are typically required to complete supplementary readings, reflections, papers and in some cases, field work.

Teacher Matthew R. Kay, writing for secondary school teachers, has advocated for establishing a safe space in classrooms where students can comfortably talk about controversial topics; "authentic listening" is essential.

Evaluation and outcomes

Research shows that intergroup dialogue has positive impacts on participants' understanding of diversity and social justice issues. After conducting a qualitative interview study with dialogue participants, Anna Yeakley found that connecting through a "depth of personal sharing" has been shown to play a significant role in creating positive dialogue outcomes, while participants who "disconnected" in response to hurtful intergroup conflicts reported negative outcomes. Yeakley highlighted the importance of facilitator training, and found that five facilitation skills are essential to promoting positive outcomes:

1. creating a safe space,
2. recognizing signs of negative processes,
3. encouraging and supporting depth of personal sharing,
4. engaging conflicts as teachable moments, and
5. attending to identity differences in awareness and experience.