To change the mind of a person suffering from cognitive dissonance, is often challenging and very frustrating. The harder you try the more adament your oponnent sticks to his beliefs. It doesnt matter how many years you have studied independent well made science proved facts, it doesnt matter how many of these peer-reviewed scientific reports you show that contradict claims and narratives of bought politicians and zombiemedia, the person before you still prefers to trust them rather than have a look at the scientific facts for themselves.
Cognitive dissonance means the awful feeling a person experience when contradicting beliefs, values, thoughts, behaviours clashes and the pain the inability to make it make sense and fit together gives. A contradictory fact or thought can actually be painful as it threatens parts of, or sometimes even the whole, beliefsystem a person have. You can get anxiety and even get sick from a war inside your head. To start questioning who and what you believe in can create strong inner conflict, the stress and the unease suffered can be awful. And it IS a question about someone’s values, truths, belief-system, fully equivalent if not actually the same as religion, regardeless if it is a trust in God, in vaccines or in the narrative of state officials. You have yours as well. But it is a problem when real solid facts and truths are easier to reject than to fit into what you think is true.
Changing the mind of someone experiencing cognitive dissonance, particularily when they’re clinging to constantly reinforced narratives by mainstream or authority figures—can, as you see, be tricky and not a pleasant experience for either part. People don’t usually shift their views through facts alone; emotions, identity, and trust play massive roles. Do not expect a transition from one set of beliefs to a new one to go smoothly. Do not expect to be appreciated. Expect it to take long time. Often very long time. To the one with cognitive dissonans the truth is painful, while the lies are comforting.
So, is there any way at all to talk to Believers and make them challenge their cognitive dissonance?
Arguing – it simply doesn’t work. Confrontation is not a good option. Coming in hot with “You’re wrong, here’s the real science,” the man or woman you are talking to will most likely become defensive and the more intensely you are trying to convince him or her, the more intense defensiveness you will create.
An option may be to instead try to ask questions—gentle honest ones—like, “What do you think about this study I came across?” or “Have you ever wondered why some scientists disagree with the mainstream take?” Any efffort to try to sidestep the ego trap and instead invite to a real talk with focus on curiosity, rather than threatening someone’s whole worldview.
If it is someone already dug in deep on a value you both share, maybe it’s distrust of corruption or a love for truth, you could try and tie the independent science to that like in “I know you hate when big money twists things—doesn’t it seem weird how much of this ‘official’ science is bankrolled by the same crowd?”
Use stories, not stats. Humans are wired for narrative. If you’ve got solid independent science, wrap it in something relatable: “This researcher lost his job for publishing this—it’s wild how hard they tried to silence him.” It’s less about the data dump and more about making it stick emotionally.
Cracks in the armour is one thing to keep in mind. Cognitive dissonance thrives when people ignore inconsistencies, so if you can nudge the person you are talking to to explain those. For example: “How do you square the funding of this politician with what independent researchers are finding?” Do not lecture—just let the one you talk with to wrestle himself with it. The goal is to plant a little, little seed of doubt that can’t be unseen.
Dissonance takes time. Expect to have your thoughts rejected, but if you’ve framed it as a puzzle rather than a fight, it may be that it will stick as a little nagging thought that can be chewed on for a long time. People change their minds when they feel it’s their idea, not when they’re cornered.
If you see it as a try to aid someone out of a mental knot, keep it human, low-voiced and let them connect the dots themselves you may succed in making another man or woman start to get curious and start to think for themselves.
Be patient.
Be kind.
