Published Sep 12, 2022

David McRaney on How Minds Change

David McRaney delves into the art of changing minds, examining the efficacy of street epistemology, narrative influence, and the psychological dynamics of cognitive dissonance and reactance. Through non-judgmental dialogue and storytelling, he reveals strategies for fostering empathy, understanding, and genuine belief transformation.

Episode Highlights

Topics covered

Episode Highlights

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David McRaney on How Minds Change

Topics covered

Popular Clips

Understanding Cognitive Dissonance

Denying Disorder

Exploring Reasoning

Challenging Perspectives

Deep Canvassing Success

Changing Minds

Reactance and Autonomy

The Power of Facts

Changing Minds

The Psychology of Reasoning

The Power of Motivated Reasoning

Rationalizing Beliefs

Overcoming Reactants

Understanding Reactance

Life Lessons

Episode Highlights

Changing Minds

Role of Narrative

Cognitive Dissonance

Understanding Reactance

Related Episodes

David Gelernter on Consciousness, Computers, and the Tides of Mind

Michael Pollan on Psychedelic Drugs and How to Change Your Mind

David Mindell on Our Robots, Ourselves

Katy Milkman on How to Change

Iain McGilchrist on the Divided Brain and the Master and His Emissary

Sam Harris on Meditation, Mindfulness, and Morality

Charlan Nemeth on In Defense of Troublemakers

Paul Bloom on Psych, Psychology, and the Human Mind

David Weinberger on Too Big to Know

Dan Pink on How Half Your Brain Can Save Your Job

David Rose on the Moral Foundations of Economic Behavior

Daniel Willingham on Education, School, and Neuroscience

Andrew McAfee on the Geek Way

David Henderson on Disagreeable Economists

Dan Klein on Truth, Bias, and Disagreement

David McRaney on How Minds Change

Topics covered

Popular Clips

Episode Highlights

Changing MindsDavid McRaney explores the transformative power of street epistemology and deep canvassing in changing minds. He highlights the importance of non-judgmental dialogue and introspection in shifting beliefs and attitudes.

Changing Minds

Role of NarrativeDavid McRaney explores the profound influence of storytelling on belief formation, emphasizing how narratives can bypass counterarguments and foster empathy. He also discusses the importance of collaborative dialogue in enhancing understanding and respect for diverse perspectives.

Role of Narrative

Cognitive DissonanceDavid McRaney discusses the challenges of changing minds and the role of cognitive dissonance in reinforcing beliefs. He explains how people often rationalize conflicting information to align with their existing views, rather than altering their opinions.

Cognitive Dissonance

Understanding ReactanceDavid McRaney explores the psychological concept of reactance, explaining why people resist influence and how to effectively navigate this resistance. He offers insights into avoiding reactance by fostering open, non-coercive dialogues that respect individual autonomy.

Understanding Reactance

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