Sep 8, 2026 · 6 min · 7 segments
Want to win an argument? Stop arguing. A 2013 study in *Psychological Science* found something that breaks every heated debate you’ve ever had: when people were asked to explain, step by step, how a…
Well, the key insight here comes from a highly counterintuitive 2013 study.
And he found that the most effective way to soften a hardened opinion isn't to, you know, argue against it with counter facts.
Oh, really?
Yeah.
Instead, the trick is to actually force the person to explain step by step how their own proposed policy would actually work in the real world.
Wait, hold on.
I have to push back on that a little.
If I ask someone to explain their stance, let's say we're arguing about something dense like cap and trade emissions.
Aren't they just going to get defensive and talk louder? Why would that make them more open minded?
Well, the key insight here comes from a highly counterintuitive 2013 study.
And he found that the most effective way to soften a hardened opinion isn't to, you know, argue against it with counter facts.
Oh, really?
Yeah.
Instead, the trick is to actually force the person to explain step by step how their own proposed policy would actually work in the real world.
Wait, hold on.
I have to push back on that a little.
If I ask someone to explain their stance, let's say we're arguing about something dense like cap and trade emissions.
Aren't they just going to get defensive and talk louder? Why would that make them more open minded?
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