How to Create Strong Conflict in Fiction Using Social Psychology
The secret is frames of reference
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Why is it so hard to change people’s minds regardless of proof? I mean, if we are rational, we should be able to come to logical conclusions based on hard facts.
Or are we not?
How often do you find yourself in an argument where you are certain that the other side is wrong? You can’t understand why they can’t see the flaw in their argument. The harder you try, the more they stand their ground, which makes you lose your mind a little bit more.
For example, there are some people who believe that climate change isn’t real, or that the earth is flat. It is very tempting to think that these people are incredibly stupid, but this doesn’t resolve the eternal question of why such stupidity can feel so right.
This perplexed me for a long time until I encountered the radical concept of frames of reference. Finally, I got an explanation for why human beings will forever be on opposites sides of many issues regardless of facts. It’s a feature of our psyche, not a bug (though that depends on how you choose to see it.)
