Finding common ground | Brian Wiley | TEDxFSCJ

As an exchange student living in France, Brian Wiley came to understand that others see the world in ways vastly different from how he sees the world. Yet differences need not divide us forever. Drawing on his perspective as a psychology professor, Wiley explains how individual self-worth is bound up with group identities. Whether it’s as a fan of a particular sports team, or as a member of a specific cultural or political group, individuals feel more valuable when the groups they identify with are valued. In today’s polarized world, this often means feeling valuable only to the extent that other groups are devalued, but this is not how matters have to remain—for each of us can take it upon ourselves to reach out, find commonalities, and see the world through the eyes of another. As the Executive Director of the Average Party, Brian Wiley is committed to bringing accountability back to political systems. He is also an instructor of psychology at Florida State College at Jacksonville, a management consultant and photographer. A graduate of FSCJ, the University of North Florida and the University of Florida, Brian has graduate degrees in psychology and business management and has completed research in situational leadership, cognition, and multicultural problem-solving strategies. In his free time he enjoys participating in triathlons and ultramarathons. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx