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? 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.
http://medicalxpress.com/news/2014-07-attitudes-dont-extremely.html
(Score: 4, Insightful) by joshuajon on Friday July 18 2014, @04:47PM
I'm no expert, but this sounds a lot like "reverse psychology".
(Score: 5, Funny) by Buck Feta on Friday July 18 2014, @04:49PM
I think you're completely right!
- fractious political commentary goes here -
(Score: 4, Informative) by frojack on Friday July 18 2014, @05:29PM
This is simply a form of reducto absurdum, (which some, never having been through even one logic or philosophy class, falsely assume is a logical fallacy).
Its been widely used, most famously by Socrates
No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by Tork on Friday July 18 2014, @05:38PM
I've watched this happen a lot on Slashdot. Someone would put up their theory, another would come along and rather solidly shoot it down, the first would then argue that they were right OR try to find some fault in the other and focus on that for a bit. What you rarely see is: "Hmm... you're right! My bad."
In other words I rarely see "beating them at the debate" causing a concession on line, but what I do often see is a little acknowledgement can nudge a debate back towards discussion.
🏳️🌈 Proud Ally 🏳️🌈
(Score: 2) by frojack on Friday July 18 2014, @08:33PM
Oh, believe me, I agree with you. Indubitably. No, you're quite right. I insist! /end Chip N' Dale mode...
Flies to honey, and such. And, yes, sooner or later, even the flies realize they are stuck, and yes, they sometimes come around. I guess this article is saying they go away feeling better if you fawningly lead them down the primrose path only to have them come to their own conclusion that they were wrong. But I wonder if sooner or later they also realize you were shining them on, playing them, and resent you for a much longer time afterwards.
But hey, that's just me. I've been shined on by experts.
No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by Tork on Friday July 18 2014, @05:31PM
;)
🏳️🌈 Proud Ally 🏳️🌈
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday July 18 2014, @07:13PM
No no, that is called sarcasm!
(Score: 2) by Tork on Friday July 18 2014, @07:18PM
🏳️🌈 Proud Ally 🏳️🌈
(Score: 2) by BasilBrush on Saturday July 19 2014, @05:36PM
Sarcasm is the very best debate form. Far better than using facts and logic.
Hurrah! Quoting works now!
(Score: 4, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Friday July 18 2014, @04:55PM
In American politics, consider what the Tea party did to the main Republican Party. Many middle of the road people (myself included) ran screaming in the opposite direction of that train wreck.
Secret democrat mind control ploy!
(Score: 1, Flamebait) by Oligonicella on Friday July 18 2014, @05:12PM
AC, not so secret Democratic sock puppet.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday July 18 2014, @05:19PM
'Oligonicella' equally secret Tea Party sock puppet.
(Score: 1, Redundant) by Bot on Friday July 18 2014, @05:43PM
Account abandoned.
(Score: 1) by EQ on Friday July 18 2014, @06:16PM
1. Say"You love your money more than your life and never ever would you send a bunch of it to me."
2. ?
3. Profit!
(Score: 1) by Buck Feta on Friday July 18 2014, @06:25PM
AKA the ol' Nairegin 914 scam.
- fractious political commentary goes here -
(Score: 3, Interesting) by number6 on Friday July 18 2014, @06:28PM
The 48 Laws of Power, by Robert Greene (1998)
I am curious to know if these research scientists have any knowledge of this book???
An outline of all 48 laws at Purdue University [purdue.edu]
An article on the book at Wikipedia [wikipedia.org]
(Score: 2, Insightful) by bzipitidoo on Friday July 18 2014, @07:01PM
Some of those 48 laws do not sound so great. Downright bad, in fact. I expect the work is not well known for that reason-- it is plain wrong and forgettable. A lot of those laws are hypocritical and anti-social. Well, it did say "laws of power" not "laws of good behavior".
"Keep your hands clean" sounds good, until you read this gem in the explanation: "Maintain such a spotless appearance by using others as scapegoats and cat's-paws". Uh huh. "Learn to Keep People Dependent on You" could mean that you ought to go for relationships of mutual dependence, but the explanation says "To maintain your independence you must always be needed and wanted." So, you are to increase your independence from others at the same time as you work to undermine others' independence from you?
(Score: 2) by Zyx Abacab on Friday July 18 2014, @07:34PM
Those sound like great ways to exercise power over others. Scapegoats are a wonderful way to escape blame, and the most profitable business relationships are one-sided. There are plenty of real-world examples to evidence these points.
This is a book about control, not morals.
(Score: 2) by Phoenix666 on Sunday July 20 2014, @03:24PM
Indeed it reads like an echo of Machiavelli. Reading the 48 points, I recognize elements of life in this command-and-control system we find ourselves in. And though I acknowledge they are rules of how power is wielded now, and has been in the past, they are rules for sociopaths.
We need new rules that do not select for sociopaths. We need systems of self-governance that do not promote sociopathic behavior. It is long past time for humanity to grow up and behave differently. Yes, it is hard to curb instincts developed over generations of hunter-gatherer and tribal existence, and the primate past that preceded that, but with sentience anything is possible.
Washington DC delenda est.
(Score: 2) by PinkyGigglebrain on Friday July 18 2014, @08:17PM
makes me think of the
http://en.memory-alpha.org/wiki/Rules_of_Acquisition [memory-alpha.org]
from ST:DS9
"Beware those who would deny you Knowledge, For in their hearts they dream themselves your Master."
(Score: 0, Flamebait) by Arik on Friday July 18 2014, @08:13PM
If laughter is the best medicine, who are the best doctors?
(Score: 2) by lubricus on Saturday July 19 2014, @06:47AM
Stephen Colbert's entire show is based around this!
... sorry about the typos
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday July 19 2014, @08:59AM
ok lets see if that resolves the Israel vs Palestinians issue.