Giving Compass' Take:

• The Conversation talks about the psychology behind political arguments and why it's so difficult to engage with the opposing side. When we feel threatened, we get defensive.

• Understanding the emotions at work when divisive issues are discussed could equip us to handle such situations better, whether at the office or at home. It could also help organizations involved in politically-charged areas craft their message more carefully.

• It's not just you, either. Here's how politics is stressing out America's youth.

People disagree all the time, but not all disagreements lead to the same levels of stress.

Even though people can be passionate about their favorite sport teams, they can argue about which basketball team is the best without destroying friendships. In the workplace, co-workers can often dispute strategies and approaches without risking a long-term fallout.

Political conversations, on the other hand, seem to have become especially challenging in recent years. Stories of tense Thanksgiving dinners and of Facebook friends being unfriended have become commonplace.

Why does this happen?

Our research — and related research in political psychology — suggest two broad answers.

First, our work shows that divisive topics — issues that are polarizing, or on which there’s no general society-wide consensus — can evoke feelings of anxiety and threat. That is, simply considering these topics appears to put people on guard.

Second, research on moral conviction by psychologist Linda Skitka and her colleagues suggests that attitudes linked to moral values can contribute to social distancing. In other words, if someone considers their position on an issue to be a question of right versus wrong or good versus evil, they’re less likely to want to interact with a person who disagrees on that issue.

Read the full article about why talking politics is so stressful by Melanie Green at The Conversation.