Peter T Coleman
@petertcoleman1.bsky.social
Columbia Prof, Dad, Psychologist, Dog-friend. Applying leading science and tech to advance peace, constructive conflict and social justice. Latest Book: The Way Out: How to Overcome Toxic Polarization.
Peter Thomas Coleman is a social psychologist and researcher in the field of conflict resolution and sustainable peace. Coleman is best known for his work on intractable conflicts and applying complexity science. .. more
Political science
24%
Sociology
21%
I have a solid rec. This book, organized around 43 songs, is a brilliant, moving exploration of the creative genius that emerged from the alchemy that was John & Paul's relationship. I read a chapter a day, then listened to the focal song, often hearing it anew. It was a tremendous ride.
Death of a rainmaker: When drought means murder in South Sudan
For a group of people whose job means life, climate change can spell death.
aje.io
A gripping story about tradition, climate change, and murder in South Sudan. An excellent piece of investigative journalism.
aje.io/uv5bso
aje.io/uv5bso
It is such a treat to work with this crazy talented group of colleagues from Columbia and Toyota Research Institute to build a useful app to leverage the findings from our research on optimal ratios of peace speech to conflict speech in the media. This is good tech.
Opinion | War and Memory (Published 2001)
www.nytimes.com
What are the consequences of omitting pieces of our past from the memory of our nation? A vital reflection for today.
www.nytimes.com/2001/04/28/o...
www.nytimes.com/2001/04/28/o...
The Hidden Keys to Building Bridges in an Exhausted America
America’s divides won’t heal with one-size-fits-all appeals. Recent research reveals the hidden keys—hope, action, and fit—that truly mobilize people to build bridges.
www.psychologytoday.com
For all my colleagues trying to tone down the partisan divide in our country - here's a few evidence-based tips for bringing opposing groups together...
The Hidden Keys to Building Bridges in an Exhausted America | Psychology Today www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-...
The Hidden Keys to Building Bridges in an Exhausted America | Psychology Today www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-...
Officially out in the MIT Negotiation Journal direct.mit.edu/ngtn/article...
Opinion | How We Brought Respectful Debate Back to The Harvard Crimson’s Editorial Board
www.nytimes.com
"To us, the solution is deceptively simple. Universities should create environments where students with different views must talk to one another routinely and establish ground rules that ensure they do so without distractions or prejudgment."
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/26/o...
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/26/o...
Why Embracing Conflict Now Can Prevent Catastrophe Later
It's tempting to avoid or suppress conflict in our relationships, workplaces, and society. But that often leads to bigger problems in the future.
greatergood.berkeley.edu
Learn to lean into conflict.
Why Embracing Conflict Now Can Prevent Catastrophe Later greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item...
Why Embracing Conflict Now Can Prevent Catastrophe Later greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item...
Just in time for your next leadership crisis!
The science (Negotiation Journal) and practice (Greater Good Science) of navigating multi-front conflicts effectively.
greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item...
direct.mit.edu/ngtn/article...
The science (Negotiation Journal) and practice (Greater Good Science) of navigating multi-front conflicts effectively.
greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item...
direct.mit.edu/ngtn/article...
My latest installment on CIQ Leadership - how to respond to multi-front crises - is just out (Early Online) in MIT's Negotiation Journal. direct.mit.edu/ngtn/article...
My son Adlai Coleman had his first story (on South Sudanese exiles from Sudan) published in the AP this week - and his photo was chosen as one of the top AP photos of the week. Full story: apnews.com/article/sout...
Excited to see my article from the current Harvard Business Review on The Conflict-Intelligent Leader published in the German edition of Harvard Business Manager. Lernen und genießen!
A high honor to join Sara Blanchard, William J. Doherty, Jennifer Freyd, Lilliana Mason, and Fathali M. Moghaddam on the Main Stage at the APA 2025 conference to discuss Burned Bridges and Broken Trust: Psychology’s Solutions for a Troubled Time.
Fareed Zakaria on X: "President Trump and the MAGA movement have manufactured an image of a struggling America, held back by globalization and free trade. The reality is that most Americans are doing far better than they were decades ago. My take: https://t.co/2UKIIYa9g0" / X
President Trump and the MAGA movement have manufactured an image of a struggling America, held back by globalization and free trade. The reality is that most Americans are doing far better than they were decades ago. My take: https://t.co/2UKIIYa9g0
x.com
Here is a basic economics primer for us all - especially those buying into the Trump Tariff Tale. Ignore this at your peril.
x.com/FareedZakari...
x.com/FareedZakari...
It was a genuine honor to be featured as a keynote speaker today - as part of a most prestigious group - to discuss toxic polarization in our country and how to find the way out. It was a packed house of highly attentive colleagues. Together we will find a way forward. @APA
I am excited to be offering a Main Stage Keynote talk on escaping the trap of toxic polarization at the APA Conference in Denver next on August 8 - part of the session on Burned Bridges and Broken Trust. Colorado Convention Center, Four Seasons Ballroom 2-4. See you there!
A Conflict at Columbia University - The Five Percent problem
YouTube video by Peter Coleman
youtu.be
This video - WHICH I RECORDED 15 YEARS AGO - speaks to why the conflict in Israel-Gaza so readily became a source of deep division at Columbia and other universities today.
youtu.be/QN6YtawdPc8?...
youtu.be/QN6YtawdPc8?...
F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote: “The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposing ideas in mind at the same time and still retain the ability to function. One should, for example, be able to see that things are hopeless yet be determined to make them otherwise.”
Decency Is the Small Word That Holds a Big Country Together
Decency—America’s quiet strength—is fading. Yet small daily acts of respect could restore civility, ease divisions, and strengthen democracy. Here's how we can revive it.
www.psychologytoday.com
What the World needs now...
Decency Is the Small Word That Holds a Big Country Together | Psychology Today www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-...
Decency Is the Small Word That Holds a Big Country Together | Psychology Today www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-...
This HBR IdeaCast interview is an excellent complement to my current cover article on The Conflict-Intelligent Leader in the summer edition of Harvard Business Review. Check them out!
Podcast: hbr.org/podcast/2025....
Article: hbr.org/2025/07/the-...
Podcast: hbr.org/podcast/2025....
Article: hbr.org/2025/07/the-...
Talk-about-talk
can sometimes help
open.substack.com
A high honor to get a shout out from my friend, the great poet Pádraig Ó Tuama, about my recent article on Conflict IQ Leadership!
Talk-about-talk open.substack.com/pub/poetryun...
Talk-about-talk open.substack.com/pub/poetryun...
A genuine honor to work with the Excellencies of the Global First Partners' Academy at the Ford Foundation this week. We discussed Conflict-Intelligent Leadership - and I learned a great deal!
Do you have any advice for how people might answer the question what is the meaning of life?
The Missing Peace?
Traditional peace indices overlook America's fragile social cohesion. New analysis shows that U.S. media portrays intergroup relations as overwhelmingly negative, signaling risks.
www.psychologytoday.com
Got peace?
The U.S. ranks at the bottom globally in positive group interactions featured in the media, highlighting deep social fractures. Traditional peace indices miss such vital signs of peace: quality of relationships between social groups matters.
www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-...
The U.S. ranks at the bottom globally in positive group interactions featured in the media, highlighting deep social fractures. Traditional peace indices miss such vital signs of peace: quality of relationships between social groups matters.
www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-...