Julia Minson is an Associate Professor of Public Policy at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. She is a decision scientist with research interests in conflict management, negotiations, and judgment and decision making. Her main line of research addresses the “psychology of disagreement” – How do people engage with opinions, values, and judgments that conflict with their own?

Her work examines disagreements around hot-button, identity-relevant topics — conflicts around politics, values, and professional, and health decision-making.  She is interested in simple, scalable interventions to help people become more receptive to the opposing views of others.

Minson also studies group decision-making to uncover the psychological biases that prevent managers, consumers, and policy-makers from maximizing the benefits of collaboration. This includes research on the under-weighting of advice, "wisdom of crowds," and overconfidence.

Much of Julia’s research is conducted in collaboration with the graduate and post-doctoral members of Constructive Disagreement Lab (CDL). Julia is also the founder of the Constructive Disagreement Project — a project dedicated to disseminating cutting edge research and developing interventions for professionals in government, education, healthcare, and the media.

Teaching and Speaking

Julia teaches MLD-220: “Negotiations Analysis and Practice,” a required core course in the HKS Master’s of Public Policy program. She also teaches MLD - 257: “Why won’t you listen to me? Understanding people, conflict, and people in conflict” - an intensive elective course open to HKS students and eligible cross-registrants. Additionally, Julia teaches courses on conflict management, negotiations, and decision-making through HKS Executive Education and the Harvard Program on Negotiation.

Julia is also the founder of Disagreeing Better, LLC. — a behavioral science consulting firm that offers speaking and training on effective management of disagreement and conflict.