Changing Minds: The Art and Science of Changing our Own and Other People's Minds

by Howard Gardner

Hardcover, 2004

Status

Available

Genres

Collection

Vince Matulionis Collection

Publication

Boston, Mass. : Harvard Business School Press, 2004.

Description

Publisher's description: Minds are exceedingly hard to change. Ask any advertiser who has tried to convince consumers to switch brands, any CEO who has tried to change a company's culture, or any individual who has tried to heal a rift with a friend. So many aspects of life are oriented toward changing minds--yet this phenomenon is among the least understood of familiar human experiences. Now, eminent Harvard psychologist Howard Gardner, whose work has revolutionized our beliefs about intelligence, creativity, and leadership, offers an original framework for understanding exactly what happens during the course of changing a mind--and how to influence that process. Drawing on decades of cognitive research and compelling case studies--from famous business and political leaders to renowned intellectuals and artists to ordinary individuals--Gardner identifies seven powerful factors that impel or thwart significant shifts from one way of thinking to a dramatically new one. Whether we are attempting to change the mind of a nation or a corporation, our spouse's mind or our own, this book provides insights that can broaden our horizons and improve our lives. Howard Gardner is the John H. and Elisabeth A. Hobbs Professor of Cognition and Education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education and senior director of Harvard Project Zero. The recipient of a MacArthur Prize Fellowship and 20 honorary degrees, he is the author of more than 20 books.… (more)

User reviews

LibraryThing member PointedPundit

Seven Levers to Influence Decision-Making

One key to success is the ability to influence people’s thinking. Whether one is attempting to introduce a major organizational change or convince consumers to switch brands, the ability to change people minds is an important business process.

Howard

Gardner, a Harvard psychologist who specializes in cognitive theory, offers us insight into what happens when one changes his or her mind. In order to change someone’s mind, Gardner writes, one has to produce a shift in that person’s perceptions, codes and the way he or she retains and accesses information.

There are seven levers to change, he says.

1. Reason.
2. Research
3. Resonance
4. Re-descriptions
5. Rewards
6. Real World Events
7. Resistances.

Gardner explores how these levers are employed in six realms.

1. Diverse Groups – such as a nation.
2. Homogeneous Groups – corporations, universities.
3. Culture – Changes effected by art, science or scholarship.
4. Classroom
5. Intimate Gatherings – one-on-one meetings, family gathering.
6. Changes within one’s mind.

This book is enlightening and compelling. It offers insights into the methods one can employ to influence others and oneself.

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LibraryThing member DaveShearon

I admit to pre-judging Howard Gardner without reading him. I've felt the education community's adoption of his unprove theory of "multiple intelligences" has been a mistake. I read this book as a first effort at trying to understand his influence. Some interesting frameworks, but way too little in

the way of reference to research. Ironically, "research" is one of his "seven levers" for changing minds. (***)

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LibraryThing member mephistia

I'm actually reading this for a class, and I gotta say, it's a really fascinating read. Gardner prefers a mix of cognitive/ behavioral psychology, with an emphasis on the cognitive side. He's got some pretty interesting ideas -- I like his breakdown of multiple types of intelligences -- and he uses

both current science and anecdotal examples to illustrate his arguments.

Unfortunately, for the class I kind of have to jump around in my reading and I have two other class-required books I'm reading at the same time. So I can't really give an in-depth review at this point.

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