How well do you understand a topic?

[Some Dude]

From Science Daily:

Apr. 29, 2013 ”” Having to explain how a political policy works leads people to express less extreme attitudes toward the policy, according to new research published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science.

The research suggests that people may hold extreme policy positions because they are under an illusion of understanding -- attempting to explain the nuts and bolts of how a policy works forces them to acknowledge that they don't know as much about the policy as they initially thought.

...

Importantly, the results affected people along the whole political spectrum, from self-identified Democrats to Republicans to Independents.

According to the researchers, these findings shed light on a psychological process that may help people to open the lines of communication in the context of a heated debate or negotiation.

"This research is important because political polarization is hard to combat," says Fernbach. "There are many psychological processes that act to create greater extremism and polarization, but this is a rare case where asking people to attempt to explain makes them back off their extreme positions."

 

[waza1960]

Applies to Trading as well

 

[Gringotts Bank]

From Science Daily:

Thanks for this. Whenever emotions are involved, communication is extremely difficult. I honestly believe that when two people are talking about a potentially emotional subject, that communication simply does... not... happen. It looks like it's happening, but it's not. It's like a war. One side fires a missile, then the other. Then there's a truce or cease fire or fatigue or whatever.

With unemotional topics it's easier. The less complex the better, but yeh, I find communication extremely difficult most of the time, whether face to face or online.

 

[Some Dude]

Thanks for this. Whenever emotions are involved, communication is extremely difficult. I honestly believe that when two people are talking about a potentially emotional subject, that communication simply does... not... happen. It looks like it's happening, but it's not. It's like a war. One side fires a missile, then the other. Then there's a truce or cease fire or fatigue or whatever.

With unemotional topics it's easier. The less complex the better, but yeh, I find communication extremely difficult most of the time, whether face to face or online.

Agreed. I have put a lot of effort over the last 5 years into improving how I communicate with people and the secret ingredient I have found, to quote Po, is myself. It's up to me how I react to others regardless of their interactions and opinions. Whether they wish to yell and scream, avoid the topic, blame myself, call me names, or whatever is irrelevant to the basic truth that how I react is solely within my control.

I may not be able to remove all emotion from the conversation but I can take responsibility for my side of the equation and communicate with others as I would like to be communicated with regardless of agreement.

 

[Calliope]

A tactic used by you to good effect Dude, even if it does nothing else but exasperate your opponent.

According to the researchers, these findings shed light on a psychological process that may help people to open the lines of communication in the context of a heated debate or negotiation.

"This research is important because political polarization is hard to combat," says Fernbach. "There are many psychological processes that act to create greater extremism and polarization, but this is a rare case where asking people to attempt to explain makes them back off their extreme positions.

 

[Some Dude]

A tactic used by you to good effect Dude, even if it does nothing else but exasperate your opponent.

I don't accept that it "does nothing else but exasperate your opponent", except in that people find themselves in a dilemma of their own making. When asked to elaborate their own position or assertion, if they sought to evaluate their position or acknowledge that their assertion is not as absolute as often framed, then they would discover that they have a multitude of options before them

 

[orr]

A tactic used by you to good effect Dude, even if it does nothing else but exasperate your opponent.

If walks like science, looks like science, and quacks like science... It's a commo plot, ay Cal...

Reason will eventually wear down the Unreasonable... Stands to reason.

great stuff Dude...I need some exercise, I'm off to walk my dogma.

 

[Calliope]

If walks like science, looks like science, and quacks like science... It's a commo plot, ay Cal...

Perhaps you would like to expand on your basis for making that assertion.

 

[Tyler Durden]

Very interesting, thanks for sharing