The EcoPol Project is in the business of
influencing its readership to adopt a new methods of reducing toxic and harmful
emissions. The status quo presents us with frightening information as to the
apathy displayed by society in general toward the consequences of
emissions. Thus we seek to understand how we can change the minds of people in
order to create a higher level of pressure on political figures capable of
implementing change of law regarding harmful emissions. So how do we create
true mind change in society? For this answer the EcoPol Project has been studying
not only emissions but also how to change minds based on the text of Howard
Gardner.
How we change our minds dramatically, and our
behavior as a result, is author Howard Gardner’s thesis in his book “Changing
Minds.” In it, he explores the art and science of changing not only our own
minds but also others around us. Asking the reader to question, ‘what does it
take to change our own minds?’
Gardner proposes to explain what causes us to
change our mind by implementing various tactics that he refers to as levers. He
essentially explains that there are several levers that one must pull each
releasing a new weapon to attack the stubborn minded person in order to defeat
heir current mindset. In fact, the levers actually represent tactics we all
might use when confronted with a debate of any kind. Remember, it’s important
to distinguish that we seek a positive mind change and not in any way mind
control. We want people to understand the consequence of emissions and the
value of reducing them. While the levers themselves are figurative their
influence is literal.
The first lever is the rational lever. When this
lever is pulled the lever releases an overwhelming amount of rationale making
the emission reduction proposal at very least, conceivable. Once society views
our proposal as rational, our next step would be to complement our plan with
relevant supportive data as evidence as we are doing in our blog. These first
two levers have been pulled before and we are left at the same spot we are now,
with society wondering, “So what does this mean to me?” This is where we the
EcoPol Project stands to make a difference.
The third lever is relevance. Our top priority is
to make indisputably clear the relevance of our findings to society that they
may be equally concerned. This is without a doubt the most difficult portion of
influencing mind change because without it all other levers are of absolutely
no use to any cause. Gardner suggests we use ideas, concepts, stories,
theories, and skills to help relate with and create the mind/behavior change in
society.
If our emission reduction proposition can be made
relevant our next lever is to demonstrate the idea in action via several
working models and representations all slightly differing to offer society a
choice. In addition, once society has made a choice based off of our working
models of reduction they should be rewarded with something like a tax break or
another other relevant incentive. The final lever is the implementation of an
emissions reduction plan into the real world or in other words, a change of
law.
POSTED BY: Mike Maynes
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