Did you know that more than one thing can be true at a time, even when those things seem to contradict each other? This concept is called dialectical thinking. Dialectical thinking is "the ability to view issues from multiple perspectives and to arrive at the most economical and reasonable reconciliation of seemingly contradictory information and postures." Dialectical thinking teaches us that everything is composed of opposites and that nothing (or no one) is all good or all bad. It also teaches us to use the word AND instead of BUT.
At a mental health presentation, I first learned about dialectical thinking, and it has shaped my view on how I react to information and ideas. Note: I am NOT a mental health practitioner, nor do I claim to be proficient in this method, which is the basis of dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). I discovered, however, that my innate ability to understand and respect multiple viewpoints is not, in fact, a character flaw but a way to make sense of the world. Interestingly, dialectical thinking may have some cultural components. For example, a study by Ping and Nesbit showed that European-American logic styles tended to favor a more polarizing thinking style to determine "which position is correct."
I became particularly aware of my dialectical thinking at the 2022 American Speech Language Hearing Association (ASHA) Convention. It affirmed that in my SLP world, more than one thing could be true at a time. I can be upset with the lack of progress that ASHA has made, AND I can recognize and appreciate the many things they offer. I can applaud colleagues who call out ASHA's problematic stances, AND I can celebrate colleagues' who are honored for their contributions to ASHA. Finally, I can be inspired to do more through ASHA AND support movements that grew out of disdain for ASHA.
Dialectical thinking can show up in other ways as a Speech Language Pathologist. We can disagree with the cost of our dues or how the money is spent, AND we can budget for them or pressure our employers to provide us with bonuses or reimbursements to help cover the costs. We can be discontent with our wages AND be happy for SLPs who have broken income barriers. We can disagree with the hustle culture AND spend much of our free time building a business or improving our craft.
Dialectical teaching teaches us that humans are complex and that no matter how much we love or hate someone, they have both flaws and good traits. Dialectics ask us to consider and try to understand all sides of an issue as we work to advance the SLP field. It teaches us that we can value and support an SLP's business and not approve of every decision they make. And conversely, we can hold an SLP in high esteem and choose not to support their business. Dialectical thinking also means we can expect our colleagues to join us in moving the field toward justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion. And at the same time, we can accept that they may be on a different path and pace toward anti-racism than we'd like.
Perhaps we would do well to follow the model of a group called Better Angels, which creates workshops for self-identified liberals and conservatives to have meaningful cross-cultural conversations. As described by one of their members, they have a mission to reduce polarization. In a Scientific American article, they state, "To the extent that interacting parties can approach each other with openness, curiosity and respect, the greater the likelihood that they will acquire the fruit of their contacts—the ability to learn about and potentially find common ground with a formerly polarizing mind."
What are some ways that dialectical thinking has shown up in your personal and professional lives? Comment below. We would love to hear from you.
For more information on dialectical thinking:
https://www.theifod.com/dichotomous-vs-dialectical-thinking/
https://www.proactive-therapy.com/blog/one-year-into-pandemic-how-dialectical-thinking-can-help
https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED352632
This guest blog was written by Valeria Gary, M.A., CCC-SLP. She is owner of Parkinson Speech Services LLC. She can be found on Instagram @totalbodycognition
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