Uploaded July 2018 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
According to behavioral science and public health expert Sara Gorman, changing your mind about a deeply held belief isn't just difficult to do from a personal, stick-to-your-guns standpoint, but also from a psychological perspective. As Sara puts it, “science depends on updating constantly with new information, but our brains do everything they can to keep us from changing our minds.” We see the stubborn refusal of facts play out across the world of health and medicine. For example, why do so many people believe vaccines are harmful, even when there is scientific evidence showing that they are not only safe, but beneficial to our health? Tune in to Sara’s 2017 TEDMED Talk to learn more about why we cling to our beliefs and why facts may not be your ultimate persuasion tool to get someone to change their mind.
According to behavioral science and public health expert Sara Gorman, changing your mind about a deeply held belief isn't just difficult to do from a personal, stick-to-your-guns standpoint, but also from a psychological perspective. As Sara puts it, “science depends on updating constantly with new information, but our brains do everything they can to keep us from changing our minds.” We see the stubborn refusal of facts play out across the world of health and medicine. For example, why do so many people believe vaccines are harmful, even when there is scientific evidence showing that they are not only safe, but beneficial to our health? Tune in to Sara’s 2017 TEDMED Talk to learn more about why we cling to our beliefs and why facts may not be your ultimate persuasion tool to get someone to change their mind.
