Listen, We Need to Talk: How to Change Attitudes about LGBT Rights

I've been following the research project that gave rise to Listen. We Need to Talk since I heard Prof. Michelson present early findings at a conference that Gary S also attended in 2013. I completely agree with his review that is also on this page. The book is a real contribution and it should be read. In full disclosure, I wrote a blurb praising the book that appears on the back cover. I would not have put my name and reputation in jeopardy for a book that I could not recommend honestly. Over the past four years, I read several papers that developed the conceptual framework and presented much of the data that are in this book. I also read more than one draft of the book manuscript. I can assure you that I would never have done this if I didn't think that this was an important book that makes substantial contributions to several fields. Over the years, the project took shape, became more polished and more cogent. Also, over the years that Harrison and MIchelson were writing the book, there was a seismic shift in public attitudes toward LGBT people and about their rights. This has made the book even more relevant and important. Listen, We Need to Talk makes a real contribution to understanding how political beliefs can changed through face-to-face conversations. It should be of interest to people who care about equality and social justice as well as to a wide range of social scientists: public opinion, attitude change, communication, and social movements in particular.

This is a very informative book that helps to explain how the change came for the LGBTQ community. Anyone who is interested in political science should read this to learn how the questions were asked to avoid bias and get the best information possible.

What a fascinating and timely study! The research was thorough and thought-provoking, but also easy to follow.

A unique look at a pressing problem! A unique and thought-provoking analysis that will hopefully engage scholars from a range of disciplines.

This book examines the important issue of marriage equality for same-sex couples, and specifically the role that group identity may have played (and may continue to play) in the persuasion of opponents to soften their opposition and move toward support. This book is also offering a theoretical innovation, the Theory of Dissonant Identity Priming. The central elements of this theory they summarize as follows: *Priming a shared in-group identity between messenger and audience, even one unrelate to the topic at hand, can make the subject more open to persuasion. *The strength of the effect is correlated with the strength of the identity. *The strength of the effect is stronger when the message is unexpected. The book is excellent and timely. The apparent “end” of the marriage equality controversy is illusory and the nation is witnessing a host of backlash legislation across the states. The core arguement of the book can be extended, in my view, to guns, to abortion, to Islamophobia, to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and countless other contentious issues in American public life. And...I really like the basic message—that even some of the most difficult to reach subjects might be moved if they can be persuaded to listen, a point the authors make nicely. The presentation is clear, and I am persuaded by the central argument, that salient points of commonality give greater relevance to persuasion messages that may otherwise be discounted or rejected. This is a nice idea and the authors have tested and retested their central hypothesis across a broad array of salient identities, and no finding rests on just one experiment, one coefficient. This is a powerful demonstration that affinity group identification, when primed, can facilitate opinion change by co-member cue, and that the effect of “casting against type” implicit in their theoretical model is real and strong. Overall, an important an excellent piece of scholarship.

Listen We Need to Talk is a fantastic book. Not only does the book provide significant contribution to the study of public opinion and identity politics, but it is particularly relevant in the current political context. Through the use of randomized experiments, Harrison and Michelson convincingly show that in-group identity can play an important role in shaping and changing public opinion. More particularly, they show that when individuals see people who share their identity supporting controversial issues like LGBT Rights, they are likely to change their opinion in support of these issues. Harrison and Michelson's Theory of Dissonant Identity Priming lays a ripe and important groundwork for future research. Moreover, I have found the book to be quite approachable for students. The book prompted a great discussion among my students (which is always something exciting for a teacher). I highly recommend reading this book.

Harrison and Michelson are clear and accessible in describing the cutting edge research about how attitudes are changed about LGBT issues in America today. They employ most rigorous research tools in social science - randomized experiments - to test their theory, so we have clear evidence that their ideas are useful in explaining this complicated issue. My undergraduate students found the argument interesting and compelling to read (they voluntarily read more than assigned!). The description of the research is clear and easy to follow. The design of the research is clever and even fun. Beyond the LGBT issues directly addressed, the book will get you thinking about how people form opinions - and how to change those opinions.

I was interested to read the new book “Listen, We Need to Talk” by Brian F. Harrison and Melissa R. Michelson and I was glad when I did. The author's new theory of Dissonant Identity Priming was clearly explained and the book was very readable for non-academics like me. I liked the format of the information being presented from a more general level to the more specific; and the experimental data was very well laid out and understandable. The new theory for explaining how opinions may be changed is important not only for the LGBT issue, but also for the many other social issues facing our county. I am interested in learning more about the authors’ Theory of Dissonant Identity Priming.

A real thought-provoking book on how group identity can influence those around us. Harrison and Michelson ran experiments to try to understand how people can directly influence others who do not share the same beliefs but do belong to a common group; setting the stage that anyone can influence a change in behavior if you can find a common identity with them. Answering the question of how attitudes on same-sex marriage came about so rapidly, this book implores us all to find the common ground with others to help more disadvantaged groups gain equality. A must read not only for activists and scholars alike.

This is an ethical, clearly written, and interesting treatment of how public opinion shifts on controversial issues. My students found it engaging and easy to dialogue with, and it was a joy to teach. If, as the authors suggest, elite cuing matters when we ask people about their views on things like LGBT rights, we need to have deeper conversations about how long those effects last, and how we can use them to have conversations about good public policy.

I've been following the research project that gave rise to Listen. We Need to Talk since I heard Prof. Michelson present early findings at a conference that Gary S also attended in 2013. I completely agree with his review that is also on this page. The book is a real contribution and it should be read. In full disclosure, I wrote a blurb praising the book that appears on the back cover. I would not have put my name and reputation in jeopardy for a book that I could not recommend honestly. Over the past four years, I read several papers that developed the conceptual framework and presented much of the data that are in this book. I also read more than one draft of the book manuscript. I can assure you that I would never have done this if I didn't think that this was an important book that makes substantial contributions to several fields. Over the years, the project took shape, became more polished and more cogent. Also, over the years that Harrison and MIchelson were writing the book, there was a seismic shift in public attitudes toward LGBT people and about their rights. This has made the book even more relevant and important. Listen, We Need to Talk makes a real contribution to understanding how political beliefs can changed through face-to-face conversations. It should be of interest to people who care about equality and social justice as well as to a wide range of social scientists: public opinion, attitude change, communication, and social movements in particular.

This is a very informative book that helps to explain how the change came for the LGBTQ community. Anyone who is interested in political science should read this to learn how the questions were asked to avoid bias and get the best information possible.

What a fascinating and timely study! The research was thorough and thought-provoking, but also easy to follow.

A unique look at a pressing problem! A unique and thought-provoking analysis that will hopefully engage scholars from a range of disciplines.

This book examines the important issue of marriage equality for same-sex couples, and specifically the role that group identity may have played (and may continue to play) in the persuasion of opponents to soften their opposition and move toward support. This book is also offering a theoretical innovation, the Theory of Dissonant Identity Priming. The central elements of this theory they summarize as follows: *Priming a shared in-group identity between messenger and audience, even one unrelate to the topic at hand, can make the subject more open to persuasion. *The strength of the effect is correlated with the strength of the identity. *The strength of the effect is stronger when the message is unexpected. The book is excellent and timely. The apparent “end” of the marriage equality controversy is illusory and the nation is witnessing a host of backlash legislation across the states. The core arguement of the book can be extended, in my view, to guns, to abortion, to Islamophobia, to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and countless other contentious issues in American public life. And...I really like the basic message—that even some of the most difficult to reach subjects might be moved if they can be persuaded to listen, a point the authors make nicely. The presentation is clear, and I am persuaded by the central argument, that salient points of commonality give greater relevance to persuasion messages that may otherwise be discounted or rejected. This is a nice idea and the authors have tested and retested their central hypothesis across a broad array of salient identities, and no finding rests on just one experiment, one coefficient. This is a powerful demonstration that affinity group identification, when primed, can facilitate opinion change by co-member cue, and that the effect of “casting against type” implicit in their theoretical model is real and strong. Overall, an important an excellent piece of scholarship.

Listen We Need to Talk is a fantastic book. Not only does the book provide significant contribution to the study of public opinion and identity politics, but it is particularly relevant in the current political context. Through the use of randomized experiments, Harrison and Michelson convincingly show that in-group identity can play an important role in shaping and changing public opinion. More particularly, they show that when individuals see people who share their identity supporting controversial issues like LGBT Rights, they are likely to change their opinion in support of these issues. Harrison and Michelson's Theory of Dissonant Identity Priming lays a ripe and important groundwork for future research. Moreover, I have found the book to be quite approachable for students. The book prompted a great discussion among my students (which is always something exciting for a teacher). I highly recommend reading this book.

Harrison and Michelson are clear and accessible in describing the cutting edge research about how attitudes are changed about LGBT issues in America today. They employ most rigorous research tools in social science - randomized experiments - to test their theory, so we have clear evidence that their ideas are useful in explaining this complicated issue. My undergraduate students found the argument interesting and compelling to read (they voluntarily read more than assigned!). The description of the research is clear and easy to follow. The design of the research is clever and even fun. Beyond the LGBT issues directly addressed, the book will get you thinking about how people form opinions - and how to change those opinions.

I was interested to read the new book “Listen, We Need to Talk” by Brian F. Harrison and Melissa R. Michelson and I was glad when I did. The author's new theory of Dissonant Identity Priming was clearly explained and the book was very readable for non-academics like me. I liked the format of the information being presented from a more general level to the more specific; and the experimental data was very well laid out and understandable. The new theory for explaining how opinions may be changed is important not only for the LGBT issue, but also for the many other social issues facing our county. I am interested in learning more about the authors’ Theory of Dissonant Identity Priming.

A real thought-provoking book on how group identity can influence those around us. Harrison and Michelson ran experiments to try to understand how people can directly influence others who do not share the same beliefs but do belong to a common group; setting the stage that anyone can influence a change in behavior if you can find a common identity with them. Answering the question of how attitudes on same-sex marriage came about so rapidly, this book implores us all to find the common ground with others to help more disadvantaged groups gain equality. A must read not only for activists and scholars alike.

This is an ethical, clearly written, and interesting treatment of how public opinion shifts on controversial issues. My students found it engaging and easy to dialogue with, and it was a joy to teach. If, as the authors suggest, elite cuing matters when we ask people about their views on things like LGBT rights, we need to have deeper conversations about how long those effects last, and how we can use them to have conversations about good public policy.

I've been following the research project that gave rise to Listen. We Need to Talk since I heard Prof. Michelson present early findings at a conference that Gary S also attended in 2013. I completely agree with his review that is also on this page. The book is a real contribution and it should be read. In full disclosure, I wrote a blurb praising the book that appears on the back cover. I would not have put my name and reputation in jeopardy for a book that I could not recommend honestly. Over the past four years, I read several papers that developed the conceptual framework and presented much of the data that are in this book. I also read more than one draft of the book manuscript. I can assure you that I would never have done this if I didn't think that this was an important book that makes substantial contributions to several fields. Over the years, the project took shape, became more polished and more cogent. Also, over the years that Harrison and MIchelson were writing the book, there was a seismic shift in public attitudes toward LGBT people and about their rights. This has made the book even more relevant and important. Listen, We Need to Talk makes a real contribution to understanding how political beliefs can changed through face-to-face conversations. It should be of interest to people who care about equality and social justice as well as to a wide range of social scientists: public opinion, attitude change, communication, and social movements in particular.

This is a very informative book that helps to explain how the change came for the LGBTQ community. Anyone who is interested in political science should read this to learn how the questions were asked to avoid bias and get the best information possible.

What a fascinating and timely study! The research was thorough and thought-provoking, but also easy to follow.

A unique look at a pressing problem! A unique and thought-provoking analysis that will hopefully engage scholars from a range of disciplines.

This book examines the important issue of marriage equality for same-sex couples, and specifically the role that group identity may have played (and may continue to play) in the persuasion of opponents to soften their opposition and move toward support. This book is also offering a theoretical innovation, the Theory of Dissonant Identity Priming. The central elements of this theory they summarize as follows: *Priming a shared in-group identity between messenger and audience, even one unrelate to the topic at hand, can make the subject more open to persuasion. *The strength of the effect is correlated with the strength of the identity. *The strength of the effect is stronger when the message is unexpected. The book is excellent and timely. The apparent “end” of the marriage equality controversy is illusory and the nation is witnessing a host of backlash legislation across the states. The core arguement of the book can be extended, in my view, to guns, to abortion, to Islamophobia, to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and countless other contentious issues in American public life. And...I really like the basic message—that even some of the most difficult to reach subjects might be moved if they can be persuaded to listen, a point the authors make nicely. The presentation is clear, and I am persuaded by the central argument, that salient points of commonality give greater relevance to persuasion messages that may otherwise be discounted or rejected. This is a nice idea and the authors have tested and retested their central hypothesis across a broad array of salient identities, and no finding rests on just one experiment, one coefficient. This is a powerful demonstration that affinity group identification, when primed, can facilitate opinion change by co-member cue, and that the effect of “casting against type” implicit in their theoretical model is real and strong. Overall, an important an excellent piece of scholarship.

Listen We Need to Talk is a fantastic book. Not only does the book provide significant contribution to the study of public opinion and identity politics, but it is particularly relevant in the current political context. Through the use of randomized experiments, Harrison and Michelson convincingly show that in-group identity can play an important role in shaping and changing public opinion. More particularly, they show that when individuals see people who share their identity supporting controversial issues like LGBT Rights, they are likely to change their opinion in support of these issues. Harrison and Michelson's Theory of Dissonant Identity Priming lays a ripe and important groundwork for future research. Moreover, I have found the book to be quite approachable for students. The book prompted a great discussion among my students (which is always something exciting for a teacher). I highly recommend reading this book.

Harrison and Michelson are clear and accessible in describing the cutting edge research about how attitudes are changed about LGBT issues in America today. They employ most rigorous research tools in social science - randomized experiments - to test their theory, so we have clear evidence that their ideas are useful in explaining this complicated issue. My undergraduate students found the argument interesting and compelling to read (they voluntarily read more than assigned!). The description of the research is clear and easy to follow. The design of the research is clever and even fun. Beyond the LGBT issues directly addressed, the book will get you thinking about how people form opinions - and how to change those opinions.

I was interested to read the new book “Listen, We Need to Talk” by Brian F. Harrison and Melissa R. Michelson and I was glad when I did. The author's new theory of Dissonant Identity Priming was clearly explained and the book was very readable for non-academics like me. I liked the format of the information being presented from a more general level to the more specific; and the experimental data was very well laid out and understandable. The new theory for explaining how opinions may be changed is important not only for the LGBT issue, but also for the many other social issues facing our county. I am interested in learning more about the authors’ Theory of Dissonant Identity Priming.

A real thought-provoking book on how group identity can influence those around us. Harrison and Michelson ran experiments to try to understand how people can directly influence others who do not share the same beliefs but do belong to a common group; setting the stage that anyone can influence a change in behavior if you can find a common identity with them. Answering the question of how attitudes on same-sex marriage came about so rapidly, this book implores us all to find the common ground with others to help more disadvantaged groups gain equality. A must read not only for activists and scholars alike.

This is an ethical, clearly written, and interesting treatment of how public opinion shifts on controversial issues. My students found it engaging and easy to dialogue with, and it was a joy to teach. If, as the authors suggest, elite cuing matters when we ask people about their views on things like LGBT rights, we need to have deeper conversations about how long those effects last, and how we can use them to have conversations about good public policy.

I've been following the research project that gave rise to Listen. We Need to Talk since I heard Prof. Michelson present early findings at a conference that Gary S also attended in 2013. I completely agree with his review that is also on this page. The book is a real contribution and it should be read. In full disclosure, I wrote a blurb praising the book that appears on the back cover. I would not have put my name and reputation in jeopardy for a book that I could not recommend honestly. Over the past four years, I read several papers that developed the conceptual framework and presented much of the data that are in this book. I also read more than one draft of the book manuscript. I can assure you that I would never have done this if I didn't think that this was an important book that makes substantial contributions to several fields. Over the years, the project took shape, became more polished and more cogent. Also, over the years that Harrison and MIchelson were writing the book, there was a seismic shift in public attitudes toward LGBT people and about their rights. This has made the book even more relevant and important. Listen, We Need to Talk makes a real contribution to understanding how political beliefs can changed through face-to-face conversations. It should be of interest to people who care about equality and social justice as well as to a wide range of social scientists: public opinion, attitude change, communication, and social movements in particular.

This is a very informative book that helps to explain how the change came for the LGBTQ community. Anyone who is interested in political science should read this to learn how the questions were asked to avoid bias and get the best information possible.

What a fascinating and timely study! The research was thorough and thought-provoking, but also easy to follow.

A unique look at a pressing problem! A unique and thought-provoking analysis that will hopefully engage scholars from a range of disciplines.

This book examines the important issue of marriage equality for same-sex couples, and specifically the role that group identity may have played (and may continue to play) in the persuasion of opponents to soften their opposition and move toward support. This book is also offering a theoretical innovation, the Theory of Dissonant Identity Priming. The central elements of this theory they summarize as follows: *Priming a shared in-group identity between messenger and audience, even one unrelate to the topic at hand, can make the subject more open to persuasion. *The strength of the effect is correlated with the strength of the identity. *The strength of the effect is stronger when the message is unexpected. The book is excellent and timely. The apparent “end” of the marriage equality controversy is illusory and the nation is witnessing a host of backlash legislation across the states. The core arguement of the book can be extended, in my view, to guns, to abortion, to Islamophobia, to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and countless other contentious issues in American public life. And...I really like the basic message—that even some of the most difficult to reach subjects might be moved if they can be persuaded to listen, a point the authors make nicely. The presentation is clear, and I am persuaded by the central argument, that salient points of commonality give greater relevance to persuasion messages that may otherwise be discounted or rejected. This is a nice idea and the authors have tested and retested their central hypothesis across a broad array of salient identities, and no finding rests on just one experiment, one coefficient. This is a powerful demonstration that affinity group identification, when primed, can facilitate opinion change by co-member cue, and that the effect of “casting against type” implicit in their theoretical model is real and strong. Overall, an important an excellent piece of scholarship.

Listen We Need to Talk is a fantastic book. Not only does the book provide significant contribution to the study of public opinion and identity politics, but it is particularly relevant in the current political context. Through the use of randomized experiments, Harrison and Michelson convincingly show that in-group identity can play an important role in shaping and changing public opinion. More particularly, they show that when individuals see people who share their identity supporting controversial issues like LGBT Rights, they are likely to change their opinion in support of these issues. Harrison and Michelson's Theory of Dissonant Identity Priming lays a ripe and important groundwork for future research. Moreover, I have found the book to be quite approachable for students. The book prompted a great discussion among my students (which is always something exciting for a teacher). I highly recommend reading this book.

Harrison and Michelson are clear and accessible in describing the cutting edge research about how attitudes are changed about LGBT issues in America today. They employ most rigorous research tools in social science - randomized experiments - to test their theory, so we have clear evidence that their ideas are useful in explaining this complicated issue. My undergraduate students found the argument interesting and compelling to read (they voluntarily read more than assigned!). The description of the research is clear and easy to follow. The design of the research is clever and even fun. Beyond the LGBT issues directly addressed, the book will get you thinking about how people form opinions - and how to change those opinions.

I was interested to read the new book “Listen, We Need to Talk” by Brian F. Harrison and Melissa R. Michelson and I was glad when I did. The author's new theory of Dissonant Identity Priming was clearly explained and the book was very readable for non-academics like me. I liked the format of the information being presented from a more general level to the more specific; and the experimental data was very well laid out and understandable. The new theory for explaining how opinions may be changed is important not only for the LGBT issue, but also for the many other social issues facing our county. I am interested in learning more about the authors’ Theory of Dissonant Identity Priming.

A real thought-provoking book on how group identity can influence those around us. Harrison and Michelson ran experiments to try to understand how people can directly influence others who do not share the same beliefs but do belong to a common group; setting the stage that anyone can influence a change in behavior if you can find a common identity with them. Answering the question of how attitudes on same-sex marriage came about so rapidly, this book implores us all to find the common ground with others to help more disadvantaged groups gain equality. A must read not only for activists and scholars alike.

This is an ethical, clearly written, and interesting treatment of how public opinion shifts on controversial issues. My students found it engaging and easy to dialogue with, and it was a joy to teach. If, as the authors suggest, elite cuing matters when we ask people about their views on things like LGBT rights, we need to have deeper conversations about how long those effects last, and how we can use them to have conversations about good public policy.

I've been following the research project that gave rise to Listen. We Need to Talk since I heard Prof. Michelson present early findings at a conference that Gary S also attended in 2013. I completely agree with his review that is also on this page. The book is a real contribution and it should be read. In full disclosure, I wrote a blurb praising the book that appears on the back cover. I would not have put my name and reputation in jeopardy for a book that I could not recommend honestly. Over the past four years, I read several papers that developed the conceptual framework and presented much of the data that are in this book. I also read more than one draft of the book manuscript. I can assure you that I would never have done this if I didn't think that this was an important book that makes substantial contributions to several fields. Over the years, the project took shape, became more polished and more cogent. Also, over the years that Harrison and MIchelson were writing the book, there was a seismic shift in public attitudes toward LGBT people and about their rights. This has made the book even more relevant and important. Listen, We Need to Talk makes a real contribution to understanding how political beliefs can changed through face-to-face conversations. It should be of interest to people who care about equality and social justice as well as to a wide range of social scientists: public opinion, attitude change, communication, and social movements in particular.

This is a very informative book that helps to explain how the change came for the LGBTQ community. Anyone who is interested in political science should read this to learn how the questions were asked to avoid bias and get the best information possible.

What a fascinating and timely study! The research was thorough and thought-provoking, but also easy to follow.

A unique look at a pressing problem! A unique and thought-provoking analysis that will hopefully engage scholars from a range of disciplines.

This book examines the important issue of marriage equality for same-sex couples, and specifically the role that group identity may have played (and may continue to play) in the persuasion of opponents to soften their opposition and move toward support. This book is also offering a theoretical innovation, the Theory of Dissonant Identity Priming. The central elements of this theory they summarize as follows: *Priming a shared in-group identity between messenger and audience, even one unrelate to the topic at hand, can make the subject more open to persuasion. *The strength of the effect is correlated with the strength of the identity. *The strength of the effect is stronger when the message is unexpected. The book is excellent and timely. The apparent “end” of the marriage equality controversy is illusory and the nation is witnessing a host of backlash legislation across the states. The core arguement of the book can be extended, in my view, to guns, to abortion, to Islamophobia, to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and countless other contentious issues in American public life. And...I really like the basic message—that even some of the most difficult to reach subjects might be moved if they can be persuaded to listen, a point the authors make nicely. The presentation is clear, and I am persuaded by the central argument, that salient points of commonality give greater relevance to persuasion messages that may otherwise be discounted or rejected. This is a nice idea and the authors have tested and retested their central hypothesis across a broad array of salient identities, and no finding rests on just one experiment, one coefficient. This is a powerful demonstration that affinity group identification, when primed, can facilitate opinion change by co-member cue, and that the effect of “casting against type” implicit in their theoretical model is real and strong. Overall, an important an excellent piece of scholarship.

Listen We Need to Talk is a fantastic book. Not only does the book provide significant contribution to the study of public opinion and identity politics, but it is particularly relevant in the current political context. Through the use of randomized experiments, Harrison and Michelson convincingly show that in-group identity can play an important role in shaping and changing public opinion. More particularly, they show that when individuals see people who share their identity supporting controversial issues like LGBT Rights, they are likely to change their opinion in support of these issues. Harrison and Michelson's Theory of Dissonant Identity Priming lays a ripe and important groundwork for future research. Moreover, I have found the book to be quite approachable for students. The book prompted a great discussion among my students (which is always something exciting for a teacher). I highly recommend reading this book.

Harrison and Michelson are clear and accessible in describing the cutting edge research about how attitudes are changed about LGBT issues in America today. They employ most rigorous research tools in social science - randomized experiments - to test their theory, so we have clear evidence that their ideas are useful in explaining this complicated issue. My undergraduate students found the argument interesting and compelling to read (they voluntarily read more than assigned!). The description of the research is clear and easy to follow. The design of the research is clever and even fun. Beyond the LGBT issues directly addressed, the book will get you thinking about how people form opinions - and how to change those opinions.

I was interested to read the new book “Listen, We Need to Talk” by Brian F. Harrison and Melissa R. Michelson and I was glad when I did. The author's new theory of Dissonant Identity Priming was clearly explained and the book was very readable for non-academics like me. I liked the format of the information being presented from a more general level to the more specific; and the experimental data was very well laid out and understandable. The new theory for explaining how opinions may be changed is important not only for the LGBT issue, but also for the many other social issues facing our county. I am interested in learning more about the authors’ Theory of Dissonant Identity Priming.

A real thought-provoking book on how group identity can influence those around us. Harrison and Michelson ran experiments to try to understand how people can directly influence others who do not share the same beliefs but do belong to a common group; setting the stage that anyone can influence a change in behavior if you can find a common identity with them. Answering the question of how attitudes on same-sex marriage came about so rapidly, this book implores us all to find the common ground with others to help more disadvantaged groups gain equality. A must read not only for activists and scholars alike.

This is an ethical, clearly written, and interesting treatment of how public opinion shifts on controversial issues. My students found it engaging and easy to dialogue with, and it was a joy to teach. If, as the authors suggest, elite cuing matters when we ask people about their views on things like LGBT rights, we need to have deeper conversations about how long those effects last, and how we can use them to have conversations about good public policy.

This is an extremely timely, well researched, and beautifully written book on the ways opinion leaders might effectively improve attitudes about LGBT rights in America and presumably around the world. Integrating a set of simple persuasion principles from social psychology, the authors show how very brief exposure to messages from trusted sources in popular culture can dramatically change people's views about these previously stigmatized groups. I recommend the text for students and citizens of any age.

This is a must read for Educators. Harrison and Michelson offer unique insight into the development of perspective and bias. What resonated for me was the clarity with which these authors guide the reader through understanding "how" bias and perspective is formed and changed over time. This is both a powerful and essential notion for educators interested in providing the space for empathy and understanding to emerge in our young learners.

This is a very thought-provoking piece of research and easily followed by non-scientific types. Seems particularly important (given our current climate) to understand the potentially powerful impact of those we hold in high esteem and how they can impact changes to our thinking.

This was a fascinating book with a strong empirical design and findings that are of broad relevance. Its significance extends far beyond how people think about LGBT rights and speaks to the role of shared identity in learning and persuasion. I highly recommend this book as an accessible and interesting read for anyone interested in civil rights, political psychology, identity and/or political behavior.

This book is timely, well-researched, and frankly so important in our current political climate. The experiments set up by the authors are relatable and the data obtained from them clearly illustrates their Theory of Dissonant Identity Priming. Listen, We Need To Talk is an encouragement for people to find ways to relate to one another -- something so pivotal to our country and the world today.

A must read for scholars interested in persuasion, public opinion, LGBT rights, and experiments. The authors use multiple create experiments to test how messages that cross identities can shape American attitudes on a rapidly changing social issue. The social science is rigorous and well done and the writing is clear and crisp. Highly recommend.

This is great book, coming at a time of great need about n important civil rights issue, but discusses ways of communicating that extend to other areas as well.

This book is cutting edge information about how we get to a better less polarized place in this country on hot topics. Very readable and importantly very applicable by everyone. Truly a ground breaker and hopefully a peace maker. Excellent research and superb writing.

This is a wonderful book. The authors use creative but straightforward experiments to demonstrate the power of shared identity in efforts to persuade people about LGBTQ rights. The book is important, timely, and well written.

The authors explore attitudes and how they are formed in this informative and thought provoking book. Their research is presented in a readable and interesting format making it accessible to a wide audience. Highly recommended! Lois L.

I've been following the research project that gave rise to Listen. We Need to Talk since I heard Prof. Michelson present early findings at a conference that Gary S also attended in 2013. I completely agree with his review that is also on this page. The book is a real contribution and it should be read. In full disclosure, I wrote a blurb praising the book that appears on the back cover. I would not have put my name and reputation in jeopardy for a book that I could not recommend honestly. Over the past four years, I read several papers that developed the conceptual framework and presented much of the data that are in this book. I also read more than one draft of the book manuscript. I can assure you that I would never have done this if I didn't think that this was an important book that makes substantial contributions to several fields. Over the years, the project took shape, became more polished and more cogent. Also, over the years that Harrison and MIchelson were writing the book, there was a seismic shift in public attitudes toward LGBT people and about their rights. This has made the book even more relevant and important. Listen, We Need to Talk makes a real contribution to understanding how political beliefs can changed through face-to-face conversations. It should be of interest to people who care about equality and social justice as well as to a wide range of social scientists: public opinion, attitude change, communication, and social movements in particular.

This is a very informative book that helps to explain how the change came for the LGBTQ community. Anyone who is interested in political science should read this to learn how the questions were asked to avoid bias and get the best information possible.

What a fascinating and timely study! The research was thorough and thought-provoking, but also easy to follow.

A unique look at a pressing problem! A unique and thought-provoking analysis that will hopefully engage scholars from a range of disciplines.

This book examines the important issue of marriage equality for same-sex couples, and specifically the role that group identity may have played (and may continue to play) in the persuasion of opponents to soften their opposition and move toward support. This book is also offering a theoretical innovation, the Theory of Dissonant Identity Priming. The central elements of this theory they summarize as follows: *Priming a shared in-group identity between messenger and audience, even one unrelate to the topic at hand, can make the subject more open to persuasion. *The strength of the effect is correlated with the strength of the identity. *The strength of the effect is stronger when the message is unexpected. The book is excellent and timely. The apparent “end” of the marriage equality controversy is illusory and the nation is witnessing a host of backlash legislation across the states. The core arguement of the book can be extended, in my view, to guns, to abortion, to Islamophobia, to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and countless other contentious issues in American public life. And...I really like the basic message—that even some of the most difficult to reach subjects might be moved if they can be persuaded to listen, a point the authors make nicely. The presentation is clear, and I am persuaded by the central argument, that salient points of commonality give greater relevance to persuasion messages that may otherwise be discounted or rejected. This is a nice idea and the authors have tested and retested their central hypothesis across a broad array of salient identities, and no finding rests on just one experiment, one coefficient. This is a powerful demonstration that affinity group identification, when primed, can facilitate opinion change by co-member cue, and that the effect of “casting against type” implicit in their theoretical model is real and strong. Overall, an important an excellent piece of scholarship.

Listen We Need to Talk is a fantastic book. Not only does the book provide significant contribution to the study of public opinion and identity politics, but it is particularly relevant in the current political context. Through the use of randomized experiments, Harrison and Michelson convincingly show that in-group identity can play an important role in shaping and changing public opinion. More particularly, they show that when individuals see people who share their identity supporting controversial issues like LGBT Rights, they are likely to change their opinion in support of these issues. Harrison and Michelson's Theory of Dissonant Identity Priming lays a ripe and important groundwork for future research. Moreover, I have found the book to be quite approachable for students. The book prompted a great discussion among my students (which is always something exciting for a teacher). I highly recommend reading this book.

Harrison and Michelson are clear and accessible in describing the cutting edge research about how attitudes are changed about LGBT issues in America today. They employ most rigorous research tools in social science - randomized experiments - to test their theory, so we have clear evidence that their ideas are useful in explaining this complicated issue. My undergraduate students found the argument interesting and compelling to read (they voluntarily read more than assigned!). The description of the research is clear and easy to follow. The design of the research is clever and even fun. Beyond the LGBT issues directly addressed, the book will get you thinking about how people form opinions - and how to change those opinions.

I was interested to read the new book “Listen, We Need to Talk” by Brian F. Harrison and Melissa R. Michelson and I was glad when I did. The author's new theory of Dissonant Identity Priming was clearly explained and the book was very readable for non-academics like me. I liked the format of the information being presented from a more general level to the more specific; and the experimental data was very well laid out and understandable. The new theory for explaining how opinions may be changed is important not only for the LGBT issue, but also for the many other social issues facing our county. I am interested in learning more about the authors’ Theory of Dissonant Identity Priming.

A real thought-provoking book on how group identity can influence those around us. Harrison and Michelson ran experiments to try to understand how people can directly influence others who do not share the same beliefs but do belong to a common group; setting the stage that anyone can influence a change in behavior if you can find a common identity with them. Answering the question of how attitudes on same-sex marriage came about so rapidly, this book implores us all to find the common ground with others to help more disadvantaged groups gain equality. A must read not only for activists and scholars alike.

This is an ethical, clearly written, and interesting treatment of how public opinion shifts on controversial issues. My students found it engaging and easy to dialogue with, and it was a joy to teach. If, as the authors suggest, elite cuing matters when we ask people about their views on things like LGBT rights, we need to have deeper conversations about how long those effects last, and how we can use them to have conversations about good public policy.

Assigned this to my graduate students, and they really enjoyed it. The topic is timely and the methodology interesting (and great for teaching students about experiments). All in all a fun read (as far as academic books go!).

An interesting experimental perspective on how to create an inclusive environment.

Very well thought out and presented theory that helped me look at an issue that is very important to me in a different way. Excellent work.

Excellent theory developed in book with broad applicability to sociology, psychology, LGBTQ studies, politics, business, and marketing.

Timely, topical, and a terrific read, Harrison and Michelson take complex social science theories and methodologies and make them relatable to a lay audience. Essential reading for academics and activists alike, Listen, We Need to Talk makes a compelling case for why we must discuss the things that define us now more than ever.

Listen this book is Insightful, well designed and articulated. Highly recommended! A great collaboration.

Listen, We Need to Talk is a timely, excellent book that is accessible to a very broad audience. Not only does this book provide an innovative and essential contribution to research on public opinion, but its general theory can be applied to a large array of topics. A great summer read!!

We heard about this book through a presentation Brian delivered this spring at a local bookstore - it was important to us because we run an organization advocating for LGBTQ+ rights and resources. When I first cracked it open, I was afraid it would be tedious reading, inaccessible to general readers. I was proven wrong - it is both accessible and compelling. While the volume's main focus is on marriage equality rights, Harrison and Michelson explore the ways that public attitudes shape our entire political system and how communication among intersectional identities is the best tool for changing these attitudes for the greater good.

I've been following the research project that gave rise to Listen. We Need to Talk since I heard Prof. Michelson present early findings at a conference that Gary S also attended in 2013. I completely agree with his review that is also on this page. The book is a real contribution and it should be read. In full disclosure, I wrote a blurb praising the book that appears on the back cover. I would not have put my name and reputation in jeopardy for a book that I could not recommend honestly. Over the past four years, I read several papers that developed the conceptual framework and presented much of the data that are in this book. I also read more than one draft of the book manuscript. I can assure you that I would never have done this if I didn't think that this was an important book that makes substantial contributions to several fields. Over the years, the project took shape, became more polished and more cogent. Also, over the years that Harrison and MIchelson were writing the book, there was a seismic shift in public attitudes toward LGBT people and about their rights. This has made the book even more relevant and important. Listen, We Need to Talk makes a real contribution to understanding how political beliefs can changed through face-to-face conversations. It should be of interest to people who care about equality and social justice as well as to a wide range of social scientists: public opinion, attitude change, communication, and social movements in particular.

This is a very informative book that helps to explain how the change came for the LGBTQ community. Anyone who is interested in political science should read this to learn how the questions were asked to avoid bias and get the best information possible.

What a fascinating and timely study! The research was thorough and thought-provoking, but also easy to follow.

A unique look at a pressing problem! A unique and thought-provoking analysis that will hopefully engage scholars from a range of disciplines.

This book examines the important issue of marriage equality for same-sex couples, and specifically the role that group identity may have played (and may continue to play) in the persuasion of opponents to soften their opposition and move toward support. This book is also offering a theoretical innovation, the Theory of Dissonant Identity Priming. The central elements of this theory they summarize as follows: *Priming a shared in-group identity between messenger and audience, even one unrelate to the topic at hand, can make the subject more open to persuasion. *The strength of the effect is correlated with the strength of the identity. *The strength of the effect is stronger when the message is unexpected. The book is excellent and timely. The apparent “end” of the marriage equality controversy is illusory and the nation is witnessing a host of backlash legislation across the states. The core arguement of the book can be extended, in my view, to guns, to abortion, to Islamophobia, to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and countless other contentious issues in American public life. And...I really like the basic message—that even some of the most difficult to reach subjects might be moved if they can be persuaded to listen, a point the authors make nicely. The presentation is clear, and I am persuaded by the central argument, that salient points of commonality give greater relevance to persuasion messages that may otherwise be discounted or rejected. This is a nice idea and the authors have tested and retested their central hypothesis across a broad array of salient identities, and no finding rests on just one experiment, one coefficient. This is a powerful demonstration that affinity group identification, when primed, can facilitate opinion change by co-member cue, and that the effect of “casting against type” implicit in their theoretical model is real and strong. Overall, an important an excellent piece of scholarship.

Listen We Need to Talk is a fantastic book. Not only does the book provide significant contribution to the study of public opinion and identity politics, but it is particularly relevant in the current political context. Through the use of randomized experiments, Harrison and Michelson convincingly show that in-group identity can play an important role in shaping and changing public opinion. More particularly, they show that when individuals see people who share their identity supporting controversial issues like LGBT Rights, they are likely to change their opinion in support of these issues. Harrison and Michelson's Theory of Dissonant Identity Priming lays a ripe and important groundwork for future research. Moreover, I have found the book to be quite approachable for students. The book prompted a great discussion among my students (which is always something exciting for a teacher). I highly recommend reading this book.

Harrison and Michelson are clear and accessible in describing the cutting edge research about how attitudes are changed about LGBT issues in America today. They employ most rigorous research tools in social science - randomized experiments - to test their theory, so we have clear evidence that their ideas are useful in explaining this complicated issue. My undergraduate students found the argument interesting and compelling to read (they voluntarily read more than assigned!). The description of the research is clear and easy to follow. The design of the research is clever and even fun. Beyond the LGBT issues directly addressed, the book will get you thinking about how people form opinions - and how to change those opinions.

I was interested to read the new book “Listen, We Need to Talk” by Brian F. Harrison and Melissa R. Michelson and I was glad when I did. The author's new theory of Dissonant Identity Priming was clearly explained and the book was very readable for non-academics like me. I liked the format of the information being presented from a more general level to the more specific; and the experimental data was very well laid out and understandable. The new theory for explaining how opinions may be changed is important not only for the LGBT issue, but also for the many other social issues facing our county. I am interested in learning more about the authors’ Theory of Dissonant Identity Priming.

A real thought-provoking book on how group identity can influence those around us. Harrison and Michelson ran experiments to try to understand how people can directly influence others who do not share the same beliefs but do belong to a common group; setting the stage that anyone can influence a change in behavior if you can find a common identity with them. Answering the question of how attitudes on same-sex marriage came about so rapidly, this book implores us all to find the common ground with others to help more disadvantaged groups gain equality. A must read not only for activists and scholars alike.

This is an ethical, clearly written, and interesting treatment of how public opinion shifts on controversial issues. My students found it engaging and easy to dialogue with, and it was a joy to teach. If, as the authors suggest, elite cuing matters when we ask people about their views on things like LGBT rights, we need to have deeper conversations about how long those effects last, and how we can use them to have conversations about good public policy.