In a recent study published in Psychological Science, a team of scientists revealed that people generally underestimate the positive connections they can form when discussing political and religious disagreements with strangers. Contrary to popular belief, these discussions often turn out more positively than expected, suggesting that our fears about the consequences of such exchanges may be overstated. People are often advised to avoid discussing contentious topics like politics and religion in conversations, especially with strangers. This advice is rooted in the belief that such discussions…