The Psychology of Open-Mindedness: Why Core Beliefs Resist Change
A social psychologist explains that while most people believe they are open-minded, research shows few genuinely reconsider their deepest convictions about religion, meaning, and morality. Core beliefs serve important psychological functions—providing meaning and managing existential anxiety—which makes changing them psychologically costly. Understanding this tension between certainty and curiosity, termed "existential humility," is important for building stronger relationships and more inclusive communities.
Research by social psychologists reveals a fundamental paradox: most people perceive themselves as open-minded, yet few are willing to genuinely reconsider their core beliefs about existential matters like religion and the meaning of life. These deeply held convictions form part of broader "worldviews"—interlocking sets of beliefs that help people make sense of the world and manage existential anxiety. A 2022 study found that being open to changing core convictions often comes at a psychological cost, with higher existential humility associated with increased death anxiety and lower sense of meaning. The research identifies a tension between two competing human motivations: the desire for certainty (which provides security and reduces anxiety) and the desire for curiosity (which enables growth). The concept of "existential humility"—a willingness to revise deepest convictions when presented with new evidence—offers a potential bridge to creating stronger relationships and more inclusive communities, though achieving this balance remains psychologically difficult.
Limitations & open questions
The article does not specify the sample sizes, statistical significance levels, or effect sizes of the 2022 studies mentioned. Additionally, the specific methodologies used to measure 'existential humility' and the validated scales employed are not detailed. The article also does not discuss potential limitations of the research, such as whether findings generalize across different cultural contexts or socioeconomic groups.
What different sources said
- The ConversationCenter
Everyone wants to think they’re open-minded – here’s why most people aren’t
Related
Profilin-1 Deficiency Activates Immune Response Against Breast Cancer in Preclinical Study
Researchers found that removing the Profilin-1 protein from breast cancer cells triggers DNA damage and activates an immune pathway called STING, which recruits cancer-fighting T cells and causes tumor regression in mice. The study used CRISPR gene-editing technology to deplete Profilin-1 and observed that the resulting genomic instability paradoxically strengthens anti-tumor immunity. The findings suggest targeting Profilin-1 could be a new strategy to enhance immunotherapy effectiveness in breast cancer.
Computational Study Explores How Magnetic Fields May Affect Tomato Plant Ion Channels
Researchers used molecular dynamics simulations to investigate how static magnetic fields affect the CNGC6 ion channel in tomato plants, finding that magnetic fields may alter the channel's structure in specific ways. The study was motivated by observations that magnetic treatment of tomato seeds appears to speed germination and improve plant development, though the underlying cellular mechanisms remain unclear. The findings provide a computational foundation for future experimental work, though the authors emphasize this is a preliminary exploratory study requiring validation.
New Algorithm Simplifies Evolutionary Network Reconstruction for Hybridized Species
Researchers developed NetCS, a fast algorithm for reconstructing evolutionary networks in hybridized species that avoids expensive computational bottlenecks. The method works well when given accurate intermediate data but reveals that the real challenge in network inference lies in an earlier reconstruction step. This finding could enable phylogenetic analyses of larger datasets while identifying where future improvements are needed.