Professor Invents Game to Promote Civil Political Discourse

Point Taken game aims to help people find common ground on divisive issues

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

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Steven Franconeri, a psychology professor at Northwestern University, has created a game called Point Taken that is designed to encourage civil and productive conversations between people with opposing political views. The game involves writing down arguments and responses on pieces of paper, with the goal of finding areas of agreement rather than trying to win the debate. Franconeri hopes the game will help address the growing political divisions in the US by giving people a structured way to better understand each other's perspectives.

Why it matters

The game addresses a growing concern about the increasingly polarized and hostile nature of political discourse in the US. Social media and other factors have amplified outrage and extreme views, leading many to see those with differing beliefs as "evil or incompetent." Franconeri hopes Point Taken can provide a model for how to have calm, civil conversations and find common ground, even on the most contentious issues.

The details

In Point Taken, two people debate a controversial topic by taking turns writing down their arguments and responses on pieces of paper. The goal is not to "win" the debate, but to better understand the other person's perspective and find areas of agreement. Franconeri developed the game based on research into effective communication techniques used by therapists and mediators. The game is designed to be easy to learn and play, with a focus on civility, mutual respect, and avoiding personal attacks.

  • Franconeri created the initial concept for Point Taken in about three months.
  • The game has been tested and refined over the past year, with around 2,000 games played so far.

The players

Steven Franconeri

A psychology professor at Northwestern University who created the Point Taken game to promote civil political discourse.

TC Ngandu

A player who attended a Point Taken game night in Evanston and said the game is "a way to get to know someone else better, rather than just yelling at these preconceived notions."

Colleen Shalom

A Chicago resident who played Point Taken and said the game "forces you to think before you speak...you respond to the argument they're making, not the person."

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What they’re saying

“There's nothing wrong with disagreement, but social media amplifies outrage and extreme views, and those people with different beliefs are considered evil or incompetent.”

— Steven Franconeri, Psychology Professor (chicagotribune.com)

“This is definitely something I can see myself using in the future, when you run into a disagreement. It's a way to get to know someone else better, rather than just yelling at these preconceived notions.”

— TC Ngandu (chicagotribune.com)

“I was a bully, I screamed at people on the phone, and I needed to step back. I love this because when you slow down and really pause and reflect, it forces you to think before you speak...you respond to the argument they're making, not the person.”

— Colleen Shalom (chicagotribune.com)

What’s next

Franconeri plans to continue developing and promoting the Point Taken game, with the goal of getting more people to try it and have productive conversations across political divides.

The takeaway

Point Taken provides a structured and civil way for people with opposing political views to engage in dialogue, find common ground, and better understand each other's perspectives - an important step in addressing the growing political polarization in the US.