Not brute force but only persuasion and faith are kings of this world. — Thomas Carlyle Today’s post is cross-listed with one I wrote for Psychology Today, where I and a social psychology professor, Andy Luttrell, write about people’s strong opinions — why we have them, what they are, and how we can change them….
Persuasion is often more effectual than force. — Aesop If you’ve ever used social media, you have probably tried to change someone’s opinion on something–and probably done so in vain. Facebook feuds, Twitter storms, back-and-forth email exchanges, in all of these cases, it can be quite difficult to change another person’s opinion. But did you know…
There cannot be a crisis next week. My schedule is already full. — Henry Kissinger Ah, servitude. The great role of butlers, limo drivers, and the siblings of brothers with a broken leg. For assuming you didn’t know, my brother, Zach, broke his leg on the monkey bars. And because he just forced me to…
Disappointment is inevitable; misery is optional. — Various authors We’ve all been there. Your favorite sports team loses to their rival. The political candidate you hoped would win doesn’t. A movie you love didn’t get the award. Everyone feels bummed in these moments—but why do some people seem crushed while others just shrug it off?…
The time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time. — Bertrand Russell What are some topics or activities that you’re unwilling to admit you enjoy? Enjoyment is a fundamental human experience – and one of the most sought out. But, when you say you enjoy something, what does that say about you? Why might there…
When people commit the same misbehavior at work, like sexual harassment, they should receive the same professional consequences. But some people get away with lighter punishments. Whereas one perpetrator rightly gets fired for their job, another person may simply have to attend an “educational workshop.” In a paper published just this year, two researchers have…