Bernhard Pörksen

Listening, being heard, engaging in dialog at eye level – these are buzzwords of our time, empty formulas of political rhetoric. But what does it mean to really listen, to question one’s own convictions, to expose oneself to the worldview of others? How can we escape the tendency to rush to judgment that is poisoning the contemporary climate of communication? Bernhard Pörksen shows the mechanisms that prevent people from listening – whether in private or in public or in the face of crises and wars, abuse and violence. And he presents approaches and methods beyond ready-made recipes and reconciliation kitsch that enable a new openness, deeper understanding and empathic listening.

Bernhard Pörksen is Professor of Media Studies at the University of Tübingen. He became known for his work on scandal research, his analyses of the social consequences of digitalization and his books with communication psychologist Friedemann Schulz von Thun, Kommunikation als Lebenskunst (2014). He has received various awards for his teaching and publishing activities, including Professor of the Year and the Erich Fromm Prize.