Hi there,
How many times in the last 10 years have you actually changed anyone’s mind about anything, based on facts?
The answer for most people is probably: very little. If you’re a rational person this might seem deeply frustrating.
But then, if you’re honest, how many times in the last 10 years have you changed your mind based on new facts, on a subject you care deeply about?
If your answer is ‘almost never’ then you're in good company.
It turns out that facts don’t change people’s minds. It can even have the opposite effect - the mind irrationally doubles down on its original belief, perhaps as an act of egoic self-preservation.
As someone interested in the themes we discuss here, of awakening, transformation, the reduction of suffering, I think you'll find this conversation with Dr Sarah Stein Lubrano important. She has looked deeply at this research, as well as what actually changes people’s minds.
Whilst facts don’t change minds, friendships do. Friendships, and new experiences - the option to try new behaviour. To experience ideas in action turns out to be the most powerful mode of thinking.
I find this incredibly optimistic - could our future depend on friendship?
When people are polarised around a topic, asking what actions we want to be possible for everyone generates more compassionate answers than metaphysical debate. People come into closer agreement.
This also means getting offline - Sarah discusses the research around isolation and the importance of in-person interactions.
There are also some dark sides to the research - our discomfort with cognitive dissonance means it's likely we rationalise being forced to do something we previously felt strongly against.
In this conversation Sarah talks about her new book, what it means for democracy, and the small actions we can take to become more flexible in our thinking and more connected with our actions.
It's incredibly important research for anyone that cares about our future and the ways we can help shape it.
Let me know your thoughts!
You can watch on Youtube:
Or on substack
Upcoming events
