‘Agreeing to disagree’ is hurting your relationships – here’s what to do instead

By: Lisa Pavia-Higel, Missouri University of Science and Technology, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: December 24, 2025

Words: 1,205

Last Updated: 2 weeks, 3 days ago

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By Lisa Pavia-Higel, Missouri University of Science and Technology

As Americans become more polarized, even family dinners can feel fraught, surfacing differences that could spark out-and-out conflict. Tense conversations often end with a familiar refrain: “Let’s just drop it.”

As a communications educator and trainer, I am frequently asked how to handle these conversations, especially when they involve social and political issues. One piece of advice I give is that “agree to disagree,” or …

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