In observing the world, it is interesting how open minded people are to the opinions of others.
News programs regularly present debates which end with people coming around to opposing point of view, or at least agreeing to respectfully disagree.
Of course, I am only kidding.
In actual fact, we see conservative news programs where hosts shout down the opposing views of their guests. We see liberal audiences disrupting and walking out of auditoriums where more right-wing views are presented. We see online arguments that go on ad nauseam with each side getting more and more entrenched, even as legitimate counter arguments are presented.
What is happening in these cases is the "backfire effect." When evidence is presented which contradicts a deeply held belief, we do not change our viewpoint. On the contrary, we tend to become more entrenched and oppositional.
The key to dealing with any challenge is to increase our awareness, understand what is happening and make a mindful response.
There may have been a time when embracing certain beliefs was a matter of life and death and this could explain our tendency to entrench ourselves in our points of view.
Rituals for preparing food, for example, prevented people from being poisoned. There was much that we did not understand and the rules established by communities kept the members safe in their environment.
These structures have their limits and there must be room for evolution. The more homogenous an organization remains, the more likely it is to fail.
This was illustrated in European royal families of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Genetically, they developed serious issues and politically they became unable to rule. They fell out of touch with their own populations, resulting in loss of power and influence, dissolution of empires and even revolution.
Today, as world travel and communication become easier, our societies grow more and more heterogeneous. We are thus increasingly confronted with dissenting views.
Psychological research is shedding light on how we respond to cognitive dissonance, which happens when what we see or hear contradicts what we believe to be true. In essence, we can fight, or we can try to understand the other world views.
Stephen Covey, the author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People tells us to "seek first to understand and then to be understood."
This does not mean that we embrace the views of the other and forget our own. What normally happens when we follow this principle, however, is that when others feel listened to, they in turn become more open to our perspectives.
From here, we can understand and embrace what is good in both points of view and even celebrate diversity. Covey refers to this as creating synergy. By sharing and brainstorming, we come up with the best possible solutions, where everyone feels respected and everyone wins.
The most effective institutions embrace diversity. As a teacher, for example, I know how important it is to listen to my students and to use their input in creating and maintaining a positive and respectful environment in the classroom.
In order to do so, however, I need to be confident in my own leadership and effectively communicate my goals and my vision as well. The ideal then is to create a learning environment where students are respectful in challenging other points of view and comfortable in having their own opinions questioned.
If we are aware of our own tendency to react negatively when others express differing viewpoints, and know that this is indeed the backfire effect, we can then consciously move beyond it with an open mind.
The result will be a better way, one that embraces and celebrates our differences.
More effort is required, but it is worth it. As Maya Angelou says, "In diversity there is beauty and there is strength."
Gerry Chidiac is a champion for social enlightenment, inspiring others to find their greatness in making the world a better place. For more of his writings, go to www.gerrychidiac.com.
