Why Bridge Differences?

Distrust and dehumanization tear families and communities apart and raise the threat of violence, especially for the most vulnerable among us. If we can’t bridge differences, we can’t solve the major challenges we face as a society.

When we bridge differences, we develop the relationships and the character strengths that resist dehumanization and toxic polarization. We help build a world where people with diverse backgrounds are more willing to connect with one another, try to understand each other’s perspectives, work together to solve shared problems, and help everyone in our communities feel like they belong.

The bridging practices presented in this hub are more than skill-building tools. They help strengthen our character. By “character,” we mean the collection of qualities that guide our identity and behavior, especially in how we treat others. Character strengths are foundational to bridging differences. They influence not only our willingness to engage across divides, but also how constructively we do so. 

Whether you want stronger relationships with your family members, more productive classroom discussions, or the ability to bring people together to address complex problems in your community, you don't have to go it alone. Let this hub--which builds on our popular Bridging Differences Playbook (2020) and Bridging Differences in Higher Education Playbook (2025)--be a starting place or a resource for your ongoing work.

In this hub, we have collected research-backed practices that help people connect across differences of race, culture, faith, ideology, and geography. In addition to the step-by-step instructions for how to use the bridging practices, and links to the science behind the practices, you'll find stories. We've curated a media library with videos, articles from Greater Good Magazine, and episodes of The Science of Happiness podcast that share stories of real people putting the practices into action.