It appears to be a more difficult challenge than anticipated to change someone else's opinion, which is why we may need to adopt an alternate, even time-honored, approach. Blaise Pascal, a philosopher from the 17th century, wrote the renowned article "On the Art of Persuasion" before the advent of psychology. Arthur Markman, a psychologist, endorsed Pascal's opinion many years later. He claimed that there is a 100% successful way to convince the person in your presence to consider all the angles instead of simply disproving their point. This technique is composed of two easy steps:
1. Acknowledge the accuracy of the other individual's point of view.
2. Direct them to recognize the counter-argument.
To begin with, we need to acknowledge the fact that everyone has the right to their own opinion. We should also understand that the point of view we don't agree with still contains elements of truth. After that, we should present the other side of the argument in a subtle way. To illustrate, let's take an example of a discussion between you and your partner about dinner for the children.
Suppose your partner suggests getting a hamburger, but you want pizza. You can respond by saying "It's true that a hamburger is a convenient option, but what about pizza? It can be fulfilling too, and we can also order extra dishes with more nutrients in them at an Italian restaurant - something the kids might appreciate, right?"
Rather than directly negating someone else's opinion, a more effective approach is to show them a different perspective. For instance, while a hamburger could be seen as a simple choice, opting for pizza instead provides plenty of other options with the same level of quality. This is possibly even healthier. This way, no one will be let down. It is important to remember that it is more likely to successfully persuade someone if they come to their own conclusions, rather than being influenced. In this particular situation, presenting a suggestion such as "Maybe we should look into something healthier for our children?" can make your partner give the idea some thought and be open to more alternatives. Rather than issuing commands, it is more effective to offer suggestions.
