One of the greatest challenges facing society today is how to develop peaceful communication, empathy and mutual understanding. Entire communities are being stereotyped and targeted for hate. In the political arena, differences of opinion turn into violence. In the workplace, simple differences in communication style cause loss of clients and jobs. Children, parents, couples and friends sit around a dinner table or a college dorm feeling that they are not heard or understood. Some become estranged.

Even for the well-intended, automatic psychological roadblocks and cultural...