Episode 029: Changing Minds in a Polarized World with David McRaney
Oct 25, 2023
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David McRaney, science journalist and creator of the You Are Not So Smart podcast, discusses the psychology of persuasion and how people change their minds. They explore the need for connection, gravitation towards extremist communities, and ways to practice open-mindedness. The challenges of conversing with differing beliefs are also highlighted, along with a powerful technique for changing someone's mind.
Establishing rapport and consent are crucial steps in conversations to change someone's mind, focusing on respecting perspectives and creating a safe environment for expression.
Engaging in thoughtful conversations that promote self-reflection and open-mindedness allows individuals to challenge their own biases and develop a more comprehensive understanding of the topic.
Deep dives
Understanding Motivated Reasoning and Changing Minds
Motivated reasoning is explored as a driving force in decision making, illustrated by the example of falling in love with someone and later breaking up. The importance of being open to changing our minds when new information arises is emphasized, highlighting the significant impact that refusing to change course can have. David McCraney, a science journalist and author, shares insights from his research on decision making and the psychology behind changing minds. He recounts the story of Charlie Veach, who changed his mind about 9/11 conspiracy theories after participating in a program that exposed him to expert opinions and personal experiences. The power of having a social safety net and multiple community affiliations is highlighted as a key factor in being open to changing one's mind. McCraney discusses the role of social belonging and acceptance in adopting beliefs and suggests techniques for respectful conversations that encourage reflection and reasoning rather than confrontational debate. The backfire effect and how it can hinder persuasion efforts is also addressed, emphasizing the importance of technique rebuttal rather than just topic rebuttal. Lastly, the potential impact of decision education in empowering students with critical thinking skills and improving society is discussed, emphasizing the need to question our own beliefs and acknowledge that we are not always right.
The Influence of Rapport and Empathy in Persuasion
Establishing rapport and consent are crucial steps when engaging in conversations to potentially change someone's mind. This approach requires respecting the other person's perspectives and ensuring a safe environment in which they feel comfortable expressing their beliefs. By asking for a specific claim or belief and clarifying definitions, both parties gain a deeper understanding of each other's positions. Additionally, by inquiring about the person's confidence level in their stance, they are encouraged to introspect and evaluate their reasoning. Taking the technique rebuttal approach involves focusing on the reasoning process rather than seeking to debunk specific claims. This method fosters intellectual humility and opens the door for mutual learning, providing an opportunity for both parties to refine their understanding of the issue at hand. By applying these techniques, individuals can engage in constructive conversations that may lead to changes in perspective or the development of more nuanced viewpoints.
Promoting Self-Reflection and Open-Mindedness
The conversational technique outlined by David McCraney centers around promoting self-reflection and open-mindedness. By engaging in thoughtful conversations, individuals can delve deeper into their beliefs and consider the reasons behind their positions. Encouraging individuals to question their own certainty and confidence levels fosters introspection and allows for the exploration of alternative viewpoints. Oftentimes, people hold beliefs without thoroughly examining them. By inviting individuals to explore the quality of their reasons and the methods they use to judge them, the conversation can uncover areas of uncertainty or gaps in reasoning. By remaining open-minded, empathetic, and respectful during these discussions, individuals can challenge their own biases and develop a more comprehensive understanding of the topic at hand.
The Impact of Decision Education on Society
Decision education has the potential to empower individuals to make better choices and improve society as a whole. In an era of information overload and social pressures, students need to develop essential skills for navigating the complexities of decision making. By equipping students with critical thinking, introspection, and decision-making skills, decision education can foster responsible citizenship and the ability to evaluate information critically. Through this education, individuals can develop a stronger awareness of their own biases and be better equipped to confront the challenges of a rapidly changing world. By promoting engagement in respectful conversations and nurturing intellectual humility, decision education helps create a society where better decision making is valued and practiced.
Why do people sometimes become more entrenched in their beliefs when they are challenged? In this episode, David McRaney, science journalist and creator of the You Are Not So Smart podcast, book, and blog, joins us as we dive into the psychology of persuasion and explore how and why people change their minds. Together, we investigate the psychological need for connection and how, under certain circumstances, that need can lead people to gravitate toward extremist communities. We also consider ways to protect ourselves and others from such polarized thinking and practice active open mindedness. David discusses the challenges inherent in conversing with people who do not share our beliefs and why these discussions often don’t go as planned. We also share a powerful technique to change someone’s mind, including your own.
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