A well researched and practical article that illustrates both the significant dangers of not teaching critical thinking early and often and the deeply rooted difficulties in being objective. It offers signposts for recognizing our own automatic reactions and then evaluating thoughtfully.
Thanks for your appreciation @Carl A. Jensen. This article opened my eyes up to a few factors that I'd not considered before. That's the pleasure about a deep dive into a topic!
"We seldom reach the ‘affective tipping point’ because we never allow it to occur."
It would be great if we could actually measure this effect. That is, correlate the amount of information we consume (via Social media etc.) with the inability to reach our affective tipping point on any matter.
that's a good point. Ultimately, the decision on whether to change ones mind belongs to the individual owner-operator. And I've certainly avoided discussing some politically charged topics over the decades in the interest of keeping the peace, particularly with family members. It's like W. C. Fields once said; "If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. Then quit. There's no use in being a damned fool about it."
Great quote by W.C Fields! The research paper I based the article on piqued my curiosity because of my background - although the decision to change our minds does depend on us as individuals, our neurophysiology also has a role to play, which may be (mostly) unconscious and driven by processes seldom addressed. By stating the reasons we'd seldom get to the 'affective tipping point' today, it may seem like I meant 'impossible,' although that's not the case. And personally, it's now even easier for me to avoid getting into any highly emotionally-charged discussions.
A well researched and practical article that illustrates both the significant dangers of not teaching critical thinking early and often and the deeply rooted difficulties in being objective. It offers signposts for recognizing our own automatic reactions and then evaluating thoughtfully.
Thanks for your appreciation @Carl A. Jensen. This article opened my eyes up to a few factors that I'd not considered before. That's the pleasure about a deep dive into a topic!
I permanently swore off trying this past October. My life has been so much more peaceful.
Fabulous! Now you’ve got a better idea of why it’s mostly wasted energy.
"We seldom reach the ‘affective tipping point’ because we never allow it to occur."
It would be great if we could actually measure this effect. That is, correlate the amount of information we consume (via Social media etc.) with the inability to reach our affective tipping point on any matter.
That would be a fabulous research project but it would be costly and time consuming and who’d fund it?
Thanks for your comment!
I wrote a Post as a Comment to this Post of yours:
https://open.substack.com/pub/federicosotodelalba/p/a-comment-to-a-final-reason-to-never?r=4up0lp&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true
I already know what makes it difficult to prompt a change of mind. I see no reason for you to proclaim it as impossible.
Too many people try to do so leading to misery and lost relationships. I thought that there may be people interested in why it’s mostly a lost cause.
that's a good point. Ultimately, the decision on whether to change ones mind belongs to the individual owner-operator. And I've certainly avoided discussing some politically charged topics over the decades in the interest of keeping the peace, particularly with family members. It's like W. C. Fields once said; "If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. Then quit. There's no use in being a damned fool about it."
Great quote by W.C Fields! The research paper I based the article on piqued my curiosity because of my background - although the decision to change our minds does depend on us as individuals, our neurophysiology also has a role to play, which may be (mostly) unconscious and driven by processes seldom addressed. By stating the reasons we'd seldom get to the 'affective tipping point' today, it may seem like I meant 'impossible,' although that's not the case. And personally, it's now even easier for me to avoid getting into any highly emotionally-charged discussions.