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Scientists tried this recently and discovered that agreeing with people can be a surprisingly powerful way to shake up strongly held beliefs.
Researchers found that showing people extreme versions of ideas that confirmed - not contradicted - their opinions on a deeply divisive issue actually caused them to reconsider their stance and become more receptive to other points of view.
The scientists attribute this to the fact that the new information caused people to see their views as irrational or absurd, according to a study published this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
"We truly believe that in most intractable conflicts, the real problems are not the real issues," said Eran Halperin, a psychologist at the Interdisciplinary Center Herzliya in Israel and an author of the study. In reality, he said, both sides know what needs to be done; however, there are many "psychological barriers that prevent societies from identifying opportunities for peace."
To see if tightly held attitudes could be pried loose, the scientists looked to one of the most polarizing issues on the planet, the decades-old conflict between Israelis and Palestinians that flared again violently last week. People on both sides hold strong beliefs that make compromise difficult, as years of failed negotiations have proved.
www.sbs.com.au
This actually worked.
Let's say you knew a person who loves to punch people in the face. Let's say you let him punch you. After getting beaten, and you wanted him to change, encourage him to keep punching you. He will punch you again, but after you continuously encourage him to punch you, he will start to grow fearful of you forcing him to punch. After a while, he then changes.
This is illustrated in many mangas and real life psychology books in Japan.
Researchers found that showing people extreme versions of ideas that confirmed - not contradicted - their opinions on a deeply divisive issue actually caused them to reconsider their stance and become more receptive to other points of view.
The scientists attribute this to the fact that the new information caused people to see their views as irrational or absurd, according to a study published this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
"We truly believe that in most intractable conflicts, the real problems are not the real issues," said Eran Halperin, a psychologist at the Interdisciplinary Center Herzliya in Israel and an author of the study. In reality, he said, both sides know what needs to be done; however, there are many "psychological barriers that prevent societies from identifying opportunities for peace."
To see if tightly held attitudes could be pried loose, the scientists looked to one of the most polarizing issues on the planet, the decades-old conflict between Israelis and Palestinians that flared again violently last week. People on both sides hold strong beliefs that make compromise difficult, as years of failed negotiations have proved.
To change attitudes, don't argue — agree, extremely
What if the best way to change minds isn't to tell people why they're wrong, but to tell them why they're right?
www.sbs.com.au
This actually worked.
Let's say you knew a person who loves to punch people in the face. Let's say you let him punch you. After getting beaten, and you wanted him to change, encourage him to keep punching you. He will punch you again, but after you continuously encourage him to punch you, he will start to grow fearful of you forcing him to punch. After a while, he then changes.
This is illustrated in many mangas and real life psychology books in Japan.
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