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tension and disagreement is frequently a primary goal. However, research has shown as I will

discuss later that controversy and total exploration of difference can lead to breakthroughs and

greater understanding of the issues at hand. Still many conveners of public process would choose

to forego the tension and disagreement that takes place during these gatherings due to

apprehensions handling perceived division, including those related to diversity issues tied to race,

class, sexual orientation, power, and status however these can also serve as learning experiences.

Unlike traditional forms of public participation and gathering, civic dialogue such as what

Community Conversations offer is aptly suited to exploring issues from all sides with

consideration of how public and personal perceptions and beliefs can result in new knowledge and

new understandings in public forums designed for civic learning (Saunders, 2001; Yankelovich,

1991). Tension or expression in group settings may lead to disagreement and this can be expected

and anticipated to some degree depending on who is present participating within the ‘Metasphere’

field. Field theory (Burnes; Cooke 2013) in vector psychology was introduced by Kurt Lewin in

the 1940s examines patterns of interaction between the individual and the total field that I see as a

Metasphere environment as demonstrated in the ‘life space’, referring to the objective situation in

which a person perceives and acts. Therefore, it is relevant as a researcher to be examining settings

and views from all sides. The concept has roots in the holistic perspective of Gestalt theories and

Lewin’s Equation for behavior, stating that behavior is the function of the person interacting within

his environment or B = f (P,E). As such, Lewin accounted for human behavior by emphasizing

forces and tensions that influence it. He asserted that the behavior of an individual is always geared

toward some goal or objective and it is precisely this intention that matters most in the performance

of behavior. (Psychology Notes HQ · September 29, 2013) I am interested in examining this sense

of the moment experience and construction of identity generated during Community Conversations

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