Changing Our Minds: Why we should admit when we're wrong

Podcast Summary

• The power of being open-minded and changing perspectives: Being open to new ideas, even when faced with opposition, can lead to personal growth and a better understanding of the world.

  Being open-minded and willing to change your perspective, even when faced with opposition or challenging beliefs, can lead to personal growth and a better understanding of the world. This was exemplified in the story of former congressman Bob Inglis, who was once staunchly against acknowledging climate change but changed his mind after his son encouraged him to do so. This shift in belief came about not only because of the scientific evidence, but also because of his love and respect for his son and his desire to be a better father. The episode of The TED Radio Hour further emphasizes the importance of being open to new ideas and the transformative power they can have on our lives. Silicon Valley Bank, a trusted sponsor of NPR, is still committed to supporting innovation and progress, just as Bob Inglis did in his own life.

• The Importance of Being Open-Minded and Adaptable: Being open-minded and adaptable allows us to embrace new ideas, foster curiosity, bring people together, and potentially make a positive impact on the world. Clinging to outdated beliefs can lead to missed opportunities and negative consequences.

  Being open-minded and willing to change our beliefs, even if it's a 180-degree turn, can lead to new understandings and personal growth. Bob Inglis, a former Republican congressman, shares his transformation from denying climate change to proposing climate legislation, despite the political backlash. His experience highlights the importance of being adaptable and embracing new ideas, even when it's uncomfortable or goes against popular opinion. Additionally, the consequences of refusing to change our minds can be severe, as Inglis experienced when he lost his re-election bid in 2010. By being open to new information and perspectives, we can foster curiosity, bring people together, and potentially make a positive impact on the world.

• Engaging conservatives in climate change discussions using their values: Conservatives can address climate change through Milton Friedman's principles, such as taxing pollution instead of regulation, and by leading the conversation based on their values to create a bipartisan solution.

  There is a need for conservatives to engage in climate change discussions using language that resonates with their values. Bob Inglis, the head of the nonprofit Republic EN, emphasizes that conservatives can address climate change through Milton Friedman's principles, such as taxing pollution instead of regulation. Inglis encourages conservatives to speak up and lead, as most politicians follow rather than initiate change. By creating a constituency that advocates for climate action based on conservative values, a bipartisan solution can be achieved. This approach not only addresses climate change but also prevents the emptiness of standing for nothing in politics. To learn more about this perspective, listen to Bob Inglis' TED Talks available at ted.npr.org.

• The importance of being open to rethinking our ideas: Embrace rethinking your ideas for personal growth and adapting to change. Avoid confusing flip-flopping with genuine reflection, and foster a more open-minded approach to life.

  Being open to rethinking our ideas and opinions, even when it's difficult, is essential for personal growth and adapting to a rapidly changing world. Adam Grant, an organizational psychologist, emphasizes that changing your mind doesn't mean abandoning your principles but rather evolving or acknowledging the world's evolution. He shares his own struggles with admitting when he's wrong and how this reluctance can be detrimental, just like a frog in a slowly heating pot of water that fails to realize the danger. The problem lies in confusing flip-flopping with rethinking – the former being convenient or insincere changes, while the latter involves genuine reflection and consideration. By being more mindful of our mindsets and avoiding preacher, prosecutor, and politician modes, we can foster a more open-minded approach to life and improve our ability to rethink and adapt.

• Harvard Experiment: Challenging Students' Beliefs: The Harvard experiment showcases the importance of intellectual growth and open-mindedness in debates, while raising ethical concerns regarding respectful and inclusive discussions.

  The Harvard experiment conducted by Henry Murray and his colleagues, known as the "Harvard-Boston Personality Study," aimed to challenge students' deeply held beliefs through debates with trained law students. The students who participated in this experiment had their worldviews scrutinized and criticized, leading to varying reactions, including anger, confusion, and even enjoyment. The positive responses from some students suggest that they valued intellectual growth and the opportunity to identify their blind spots. However, the study raises ethical concerns, especially considering the participants were primarily privileged white males at Harvard during the 1950s. Today, we face the challenge of fostering respectful and productive conversations around beliefs, as some individuals may feel threatened or unwilling to engage in debates. It's essential to approach discussions with an open mind, curiosity, and humility, understanding that our ideas do not define our identity.

• Embrace a scientific mindset for growth: Adopt openness to testing and disproving beliefs, engage in thoughtful discussions, and focus on discovery and learning for growth and deeper relationships.

  Adopting a scientific mindset means not clinging to our beliefs as our identity, but rather being open to testing and potentially disproving our hypotheses. This approach, as exemplified by Nobel Prize winner Daniel Kahneman, allows us to learn and discover new truths, rather than insisting on being right. When faced with disagreements, instead of giving up and agreeing to disagree, we should engage in thoughtful discussions and ask questions to better understand each other's perspectives. By focusing on discovery and learning, rather than winning, we can deepen our relationships and broaden our understanding of the world.

• The Power of Open-Mindedness and Curiosity: Embracing open-mindedness and curiosity can lead to growth and understanding. Our beliefs are malleable and new discoveries will challenge our current understanding. Unlearning is essential for keeping up with the world's evolutions.

  Being open to rethinking our beliefs and being curious about different perspectives can lead to growth and understanding. In a conversation discussed on the TED Radio Hour, an individual expressed his reluctance towards getting a COVID vaccine, but after being asked about his reasoning, he committed to being open to reconsidering his stance. Organizational psychologist Adam Grant emphasizes the importance of curiosity and courage in learning and unlearning. He encourages individuals to focus on self-improvement rather than proving themselves right and recognizes that our beliefs are malleable. This conversation illustrates the power of asking questions and approaching topics with an open mind. As Grant puts it, "unlearning is how you keep up as the world evolves." It's important to remember that our knowledge is always incomplete and that new discoveries will inevitably challenge our current understanding. By embracing this idea, we can continue to evolve and grow.

• Calling in: A Compassionate Approach to Accountability: Instead of anger, blame, and shame, adopt a compassionate approach called 'calling in' for dialogue and accountability using love, grace, and respect.

  Instead of using anger, blame, and shame to call out those who have wronged us, we should adopt a more compassionate approach called "calling in." This method, as described by longtime civil rights activist and organizer Loretta Ross, involves using love, grace, and respect to hold people accountable for their actions. It's a call for dialogue instead of a fight, and it's a more effective way to bring about change. Ross emphasizes that this approach requires empathy, which she learned while assisting in the deprogramming of people who had left hate groups. This skill was acquired through her experiences working at the Center for Democratic Renewal, which was founded in response to the acquittal of Klansmen who had killed anti-Klan protesters in Greensboro, North Carolina. By using empathy and calling in, we can create a more productive and respectful conversation, rather than contributing to the cycle of blame and shame that often characterizes online discourse.

• Practice calling in with love and respect: Instead of attacking those with different views, lead with love and empathy to bridge divides and create opportunities for growth and understanding.

  Instead of focusing on calling out and hating those who hold different views or beliefs, we should practice calling in with love and respect. This approach was effective in transforming the lives of people who were once deeply entrenched in hate groups, including former Nazis and Klan members. By leading with love and empathy, we can help others grow and affirm our own compassion. When faced with difficult conversations, it's important to go underneath the words and ask about their values. This approach can help bridge divides and bring people closer together, even when it feels like we live on different planets and use different vocabularies. By using this call in practice, we can call on others to decide how they want to be, without attacking them, and create opportunities for growth and understanding.

• Engaging with bigots: Calling in vs calling out: Effectively challenging bigoted views requires respect and unity, not endless back-and-forths. Ross' approach of 'calling in' maintains humanity while increasing chances of productive dialogue.

  Engaging with people who hold bigoted views, rather than letting their hate go unchallenged, is an important and brave choice. Loretta's approach of "calling in" instead of "calling out" can be effective in holding people accountable while maintaining respect for their humanity. However, it's essential to ensure that one is emotionally prepared for such conversations, as reacting viscerally can lead to endless back-and-forths. Some people may misinterpret this approach as giving a pass to those in power, but the intention is to treat them as human beings and increase the chances of productive dialogue. Ultimately, the way we engage in social justice work is just as important as the work itself, and failing to recognize the humanity of others can hinder progress. Loretta Ross, an organizer and activist, emphasizes the importance of unity and working together to combat hate and prevent a "tsunami of hate" worldwide.

• Expand your knowledge and challenge junk science: Listen to TED Talks, podcasts, and other resources to continuously learn and explore new ideas, challenge misconceptions, and live your future differently.

  Learning from this episode of the TED Radio Hour is the importance of continuous learning and exploration. Whether it's through TED Talks, podcasts, or other resources, there's always something new to discover. The episode was produced by a team at NPR and TED, with sponsorship from Mint Mobile and Capella University. Mint Mobile offers affordable wireless plans starting at $15 a month, while Capella University allows students to earn their degrees online at their own pace. Additionally, Kelly Corrigan Wonders, a podcast hosted by Kelly Corrigan, provides myth busting and practical advice from holistic experts in various fields of wellness. Overall, this episode encourages listeners to expand their knowledge, challenge junk science, and live their future differently.