Why does this approach work?
Instead of direct empathy, deep canvassing encourages voters to find a parallel situation from their own experience.
“Think about a time when you felt similarly.”
For example, I got good grades and would not be able to empathize well with somebody who failed in school. Instead, you would reach me by saying,
“Think about a time you were judged negatively for being different. See how your own experience might offer a window into what these people are going through.”
If they served their country in the military, they might relate to,
“Are you a veteran who has PTSD and no one would hire you? Nobody could see beyond the PTSD?”
Deep canvassing “switches the field” and finds a dimension where people are closer together; where they agree rather than disagree on the sticking point.
“It is about love and adversity, caring, how it feels to be ostracized. To be judge negatively or discriminate against her being different, something anyone can relate to regardless how they feel about this particular issue.”
“Who would disagree about the importance of meaningful love?”
(About reducing adversity and helping the ones we care about?)
Or apply this to couples counseling instead of politics: Do you and your partner value meaningful love? How do you demonstrate that?
Instead of direct empathy, deep canvassing encourages voters to find a parallel situation from their own experience.
“Think about a time when you felt similarly.”
For example, I got good grades and would not be able to empathize well with somebody who failed in school. Instead, you would reach me by saying,
“Think about a time you were judged negatively for being different. See how your own experience might offer a window into what these people are going through.”
If they served their country in the military, they might relate to,
“Are you a veteran who has PTSD and no one would hire you? Nobody could see beyond the PTSD?”
Deep canvassing “switches the field” and finds a dimension where people are closer together; where they agree rather than disagree on the sticking point.
“It is about love and adversity, caring, how it feels to be ostracized. To be judge negatively or discriminate against her being different, something anyone can relate to regardless how they feel about this particular issue.”
“Who would disagree about the importance of meaningful love?”
(About reducing adversity and helping the ones we care about?)
Or apply this to couples counseling instead of politics: Do you and your partner value meaningful love? How do you demonstrate that?
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