I’m currently working on a class about how mental models can change. Mental models are the underlying beliefs, stereotypes, values, etc., that we hold that influence how we think and act. They also influence what policies and politicians we’ll support. We often aren’t aware of our mental models, especially when they match the models of the dominant culture around us. An example is whether you see nature as having intrinsic value, value in and of itself, or if it only has value as determined by the ability for humans to use it as a resource.
Perhaps unsurprisingly in the current day, researchers are finding that the more popular people think an idea is, the more likely they are to endorse that belief. Orticio, Marti, and Kidd (2022) found that even without any direct evidence of the truth of a claim, participants would change their beliefs based on the data from an anonymous 10-person sample that conflicted with their previous belief. The amount that it conflicted was held the same. All the items related to unsupported beliefs from a variety of different topics.
What does this mean? If people were shown that a belief is more common than they originally thought, they would see the claim as more plausible, even though they saw no evidence to support the belief itself. Clearly this has huge implications for our world today. In Alberta, we just held a referendum which did see strong support for staying in Canada. However, the other nine questions, many of which were racist are looking like they passed. Of course, the Alberta Government has been campaigning for these nine questions to encourage citizens to vote for them. There were a number of other issues as well with them such as requiring extremely high reading levels. But, given this research about people changing their beliefs based on unverified data but social support, I can see where having the government campaigning for a particular answer could sway people towards a view they may not truly support.
How do you ensure that your beliefs are your own and that you seek out data not popularity to support your views?
I believe empathy plays an important role in how we communicate and evaluate our beliefs. By understanding the audience we are addressing, we can consider how convincing an idea might be to them and how they might interpret it. For me, empathy is not necessarily about changing my perspective, but about understanding how my beliefs and ideas are perceived by others. This awareness can help us communicate more effectively, while also recognizing the difference between persuading someone and manipulating them.
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Posted by bozkurtamsterdam | October 20, 2026, 1:34 pmEmpathy is definitely relevant when we are looking at intentional communication. I think that’s a bit different from what this study was investigating where it looked at how exposure to different agreement rates impacted how much someone endorsed an idea. However, this study raises important points about how communicators might acknowledge this and use it to inform or manipulate
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Posted by Tai Munro | October 20, 2026, 4:19 pmWhat I actually mean is that I believe empathy plays an important role in understanding whether our beliefs are truly our own or shaped by social popularity. By stepping outside my own perspective and considering myself as part of the larger social structure, I can reflect on how collective beliefs influence my thinking. This allows me to question whether I hold a belief because I have sound reasons to support it or because it has become socially accepted. For me, empathy is not simply about understanding others, but also about understanding my own position within society and critically evaluating the origins of my beliefs. In this way, I can examine how firmly my beliefs are grounded in my own reasoning rather than in the popularity of an idea.
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Posted by bozkurtamsterdam | October 20, 2026, 4:49 pmI love this. I’d be curious if there is research on how this plays out generally
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Posted by Tai Munro | October 23, 2026, 7:16 pmThis is an idea I came up with myself, and I’m not sure whether there’s any research exploring it. I’m deeply interested in philosophy and creative thinking, and I’d love to explore these ideas further. Since you found my perspective interesting, I’d be curious to know if there might be an opportunity to demonstrate my way of thinking through a philosophical question, a creative challenge, or a topic you find worth exploring.
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Posted by bozkurtamsterdam | October 24, 2026, 12:00 pm