5.1 Pattern 7: Sharing and transcending a dilemma

Course subject(s) 5. The game of framing and reframing, final part

Some problems take the form of a dilemma: there is no clear right or wrong, no clear black or white. In this clip, we explain how dilemmas can be used in the game of framing and reframing.

 

Episode 11: Pattern 7: Sharing and transcending a dilemma

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1080p | subtitles | transcript

 

Main takeaways

If you wish to convince your listeners of your position, it can help if you formulate a dilemma first

  • … or possibly even a moral dilemma.
  • Part of this dilemma is your opponent’s position.
  • You then frame your own position as one that transcends the dilemma, offering a way out.
  • By making your opponent’s position part of the dilemma, you can also create the impression of transcending your opponent – you are not placing your position in opposition to your opponent, but above your opponent.

In addition

Anyone faced by a frame of this kind is forced to reframe. How? – You design another dilemma, in which your position transcends the dilemma.

In this clip, we look at the following dilemma:

  • on the one hand, this country has a moral duty to taking refugees
  • on the other hand, this country has had its fair share

The conclusion: we need to close the borders and accommodate refugees in their own region.

How would you reframe this position, using the same technique? Use a dilemma to reframe it:

  • of course, on the one hand it makes sense to accommodate refugees in their own region
  • on the other hand, there are limited opportunities for refuge in the region, which is resulting in inhumane conditions.

The conclusion: we need to open our borders to refugees.

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Framing by TU Delft OpenCourseWare is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Based on a work at https://ocw.tudelft.nl/courses/framing/.
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