Social Justice Advocacy and the Culture of Outrage

“If you’re not outraged, you’re not paying attention” is a rallying cry in social justice circles. Indeed, there is plenty to be outraged about – income inequality, police use of force, lack of health care, treatment of refugees, violence against transgender people, to name a few. When is outrage beneficial, and what toll does it take? Can science guide social justice advocates to harness outrage effectively? In this presentation, Professor Tania Israel, author of Beyond Your Bubble: How to Connect Across the Political Divide, Skills and Strategies for Conversations That Work will draw on psychological research to tackle these questions and offer a blueprint for dialogue-based social justice advocacy.

Tania Israel is a Professor in the Department of Counseling, Clinical, and School Psychology at the University of California, Santa Barbara. She holds a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology and is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association. Dr. Israel teaches about helping skills, leadership, and community collaboration, among other things. She has facilitated educational programs and difficult dialogues about a range of topics, including abortion, law enforcement, religion, and sexual orientation. Beyond Your Bubble: How to Connect Across the Political Divide, Skills and Strategies for Conversations That Work (APA, 2020) grew out of Dr. Israel’s skill-building workshop that she developed and delivered to hundreds of participants following the 2016 election. It draws on her strengths as a psychologist and community organizer to prepare people to engage in dialogue across political lines.