In today’s political climate, it sometimes feels like we
can’t even agree on basic facts. We bombard each other
with statistics and figures, hoping that more data will make
a difference. A progressive person might show you the same
climate change graphs over and over while a conservative
person might point to the trillions of dollars of growing national
debt. We’re left wondering, “Why can’t they just see? It’s so
obvious!”
Certain myths are so pervasive that no matter how many
experts disprove them, they only seem to grow in popularity.
There’s no shortage of serious studies showing no link
between autism and vaccines, for example, but these are no
match for an emotional appeal to parents worried for their
young children.
Tali Sharot, a cognitive neuroscientist at University College
London, studies how our minds work and how we process
new information. In her upcoming book, The Influential Mind,
she explores why we ignore facts and how we can get people
to actually listen to the truth. Tali shows that we’re open to
new information – but only if it confirms our existing beliefs.
We find ways to ignore facts that challenge our ideals. And as
neuroscientist Bahador Bahrami and colleagues have found,
we weigh all opinions as equally valid, regardless of expertise.
So, having the data on your side is not always enough.
For better or for worse, Sharot says, emotions may be the key
to changing minds.
(Shankar Vedantam. www.npr.org. Adaptado.)
No trecho do quarto parágrafo “emotions may be the key to
changing minds”, o termo sublinhado pode ser substituído,
sem alteração de sentido no texto, por:
