Changing Minds by Howard Gardner


Why is the phenomenon of changing minds so mysterious?

"Changing Minds” by Howard Gardner addresses the questions of why the phenomenon of changing minds is so mysterious, how people become set on a certain way of thinking, and what it take to change that perspective. He focuses on changes of mind that occur consciously, typically as a result of forces that can be identified—rather than through subtle manipulations. For example, a teacher who turns a student on to learning and stimulates her to continue pursuing a topic even after the course is over has affected the student’s mind in a substantial way. Drawing on decades of cognitive research, Dr. Gardner identifies seven levers that aid or thwart the process of mind change: reason, research, resonance, representational redescription, resources/rewards, real world events, and resistances. This original framework shows how individuals can align these levers to bring about significant changes in perspective and behavior

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Posted: Mon - December 5, 2005 at 10:04 AM          

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