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Talking to a loved one about misinformation? Here’s what to do

NLP in the News


In an interview with CapRadio’s Insight, John Silva, NLP’s senior director of professional learning, explained how to speak with loved ones about misinformation. Noting that misinformation can be compelling because it’s designed to evoke an emotional reaction, Silva said, “If we feel our beliefs are being attacked, we’re going to hold on to them a little bit more tightly. The key thing is [what] we call “patience, empathy and persistence.” It’s really important in the sense that we have to recognize that this is something that the person genuinely believes, and we have to find ways to talk to them in a way that’s respectful of this belief and open it as a conversation.” 

To read more, listen to the interview, and learn how to speak with a loved one who believes misinformation, click here. 

To listen to an earlier interview with CapRadio and John Silva about why it’s so easy to fall for misinformation, click here. 

For more on how to approach difficult conversations with family this holiday season, click here.

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