Establishing an Effective Dialogue to Support Diversity, Inclusion, and the Learning Outcomes

Abstract

This paper explores the psychological processes necessary for the creation of an effective dialogue among diverse people in an inclusive environment. We propose that such dialogue contributes to achieving positive self-transformation when exposed to group diversity, leading to positive learning outcomes. Diversity can be disruptive, if not well managed, leading to stereotyping, conflicts, and misunderstanding, however in this paper, we view diversity as a factor that once exposed can enriched the self and lead to positive learning outcomes such as an inclusive self, feeling of psychological closeness to different others, acquiring diversity competencies, quality interpersonal relationships, enhancing creativity and innovation. We review some interpersonal psychological mechanisms that are part of an effective dialogue: self-categorization versus social identification, self-disclosure, mutual empathy, and learning from each other’s identities. We propose that these five interpersonal mechanisms are at the core of an effective dialogue and therefore mediate the relationship between group diversity and the learning outcomes.