How to Deal with Friends and Family Who Hold Extreme Political Views

No two people in the world see eye to eye on everything. Because politics is one of the most polarizing topics, you may find it challenging to deal with friends and relatives with extreme political beliefs.

In extreme cases, a person's dominance, extreme views, or need to control you might make you think about ending the friendship or estranging from the family.

How to Manage a Relationship with Someone with Different Political Views

Focusing on what pulls you together and exercising good self-control during political discussions can help you deal with friends and family who have radical political beliefs. In other circumstances, it may be best to avoid political discussions entirely.

However, here are some tips for handling heated conversations to fix things and keep your relationships safe when you do get into a disagreement.

Be Curious

Keep in mind that different points of view, conflicts, and conversations are the foundation of a thriving democracy. So, if you and a friend or family member have other political ideas, you should try to understand why they think the way they do. Ask questions and try to learn about their values and beliefs with no judgment.

Don't Try to Change the Person's Views

Making someone see things your way is not the healthiest way to keep a relationship going. For example, there is a slight chance that showing your father poll results about how many people share your political views will change his mind.

Political standpoints are based on our interpretation of facts. They are also highly emotionally charged, making it difficult to use reasoning to convince another individual of your point of view.

Use the Skill of Active Listening

Practice active listening. You can achieve this by suspending judgment and using reflective questions to demonstrate a genuine desire to understand as much as possible about your friend's point of view. Positively engage in discussion by paraphrasing the other person's words.

Try not to become emotional over your friend's responses, reminding yourself of all those things you have in common. Remember that politics is only one aspect of life on which you disagree. So, try not to give it too much attention.

Avoid Political Topics at Family Gatherings

During the holiday season, many families gather to spend time together. But, unfortunately, a heated political argument over dinner with your siblings or relatives will not make your family gathering enjoyable.

So, plan on steering around conversations and keeping your emotions in check while you're there. Anger management or cooling your anger when you’re triggered can be very helpful when you’re in a social or family situation.

Find out how your feelings affect others and how to deal with theirs. For example, try mindfulness or breathing exercises to calm down and reflect on your thoughts and feelings. Improved self-awareness can help you deal with stressful situations better when you get together with your family for the holidays.

Set Boundaries

If your political views are entirely different, agree on how far you will go in talking about politics. For example, you could agree to listen to each other carefully, to end the conversation if it gets too heated, or not to talk over each other.

Also, if another person tries to end the conversation, don't force it. Or, when you start to feel too emotional, you might want to take a breather to avoid saying something you cannot take back.

Don't feel guilty if you wish to reduce your contact or the time you spend around the person, whether temporarily or permanently. For some people, political beliefs are an important element of their identities. As a result, they may be intense, and a person may feel a threat to their identity if you disagree with them.

So, if your interaction with someone who holds radical political ideas drains you or threatens your well-being, putting the relationship on hold may be a sensible alternative.

Give It Time to Cool Down

If you feel upset with your friend or family member, wait until you calm down before you continue communication.

Another person might also need some time to cool down, so respect their need for some no-contact time.

Focus on Common Interests

Think flexibly and trying to see things from the point of view of a friend or family member. Keep in mind that you don't have to agree on everything to have a healthy, meaningful relationship. Instead, focus on similar interests, values, and things you have in common. Finally, remember that your relationship is more important than your political differences.

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