The Power of Logic

Many people believe in resolving differences of opinion with a logical and organized sequence: I explain the situation by providing facts to support my view, and you do the same, we find each other’s logical errors, and a logical view emerges. All this is quite plausible.

This approach can work if both parties are just trying to find the truth, rationally and unemotionally, without any ego or self-interest. If the people you’re trying to get along with are so thoughtful, either you’re not reading this article or you’re not living on this planet.

How do normal people react to a new idea? They compare the idea they come across with the idea they previously believed. If the new idea fits their understanding of thought, they accept it. If it doesn’t fit, they refuse.

Is this behavior irrational? Yes, it is. It is also a reflection of human nature. It explains why people see only their own thoughts as strong and the thoughts of others as weak. People see the world the way they want to see it. People once believed that the sun revolved around the earth. Do you know how long it took our species to admit that they were wrong about this?

Centuries! This is proof of how stubborn we are and how we resist change.

If you think we’ve improved since then, let’s do an experiment. Cut out a local newspaper’s headline with provocative comments. Show two people of opposite poles – for example, a liberal and a conservative.

Then ask if the article changed their minds.

In the article, the person who defends the liberal view will find ideas that support the liberal view; if he is conservative, he will find ideas that support the conservative view. Neither side will ever give up on their own ideas.

Which of your views on human nature is more realistic?

Common diagnosis:

1. People care about learning objective truth.
2. People have the ability to observe events without getting carried away with their emotions.
3. If you show the facts, people will change their point of view.
4. If you show the facts, people will change their point of view.
5. People are rational and accept that they are right.

Strategic communication:

1. People try to prove that they are right.
2. People see the world the way they want to see it.
3. People interpret facts as they please to support their own views.

People act emotionally and defend their own opinions.

Trying to change people’s minds is one of the most difficult ways to resolve an issue. Others have to put their own thoughts aside in order to accept yours. This is the opposite of what people usually do. Often, people prefer to interpret the facts in a way that confirms their own bias, rather than admitting that they are wrong.

When people feel pressured, they act emotionally. This is a rule. People think, “I must defend my view,” and then they get defensive and then attack their opponents. If we recall Newton’s law: Every motion has an equivalent and opposite counterpart. If one person insists, the other resists.