Open-mindedness

This article is about the psychological concept. For other uses, see Open mind (disambiguation).

Open-mindedness is receptiveness to new ideas. Open-mindedness relates to the way in which people approach the views and knowledge of others.^[1] Jason Baehr defines an open-minded person as one who "characteristically moves beyond or temporarily sets aside his own doxastic commitments in order to give a fair and impartial hearing to the intellectual opposition".^[2] Jack Kwong's definition sees open-mindedness as the "willingness to take a novel viewpoint seriously".^[3]

According to Wayne Riggs, open-mindedness springs from an awareness of the inherent fallibility of one's beliefs; hence, open-minded individuals are more inclined to listen to, and seriously consider, alternative viewpoints.^[4]

There are various scales for the measurement of open-mindedness.^[5] Harding and Hare argued that schools should emphasize open-mindedness more than relativism in their science instruction, because the scientific community does not embrace a relativistic way of thinking.^[6]

Among other things, the critical attitude^{[clarification needed]} involves an open-minded outlook with respect to one's beliefs.^[7]

Open-mindedness is generally considered^{[by whom?]} an important personal attribute for effective participation in management teams and other groups.^{[citation needed]} Open-mindedness is usually encouraged^{[by whom?]} in group settings, within different cultures and new environments.^{[8][need quotation to verify]}

According to David DiSalvo, closed-mindedness, or an unwillingness to consider new ideas, can result from the brain's natural dislike for ambiguity. According to this view, the brain has a "search and destroy" relationship with ambiguity and evidence contradictory to people's current beliefs tends to make them uncomfortable by introducing such ambiguity.^[9] Research confirms that belief-discrepant-closed-minded persons have less tolerance for cognitive inconsistency.^[10]

Virtues contrasting with open-mindedness include steadfastness, loyalty, and fundamentalism.

Open-mindedness in American political parties

Democrats and Republicans differ in how they describe themselves in 2024, according to a Pew poll. Three-fourths (75%) of Democrats describing themselves as open minded compared to half (54%) of Republicans while 44% of Republicans are skeptical of what experts say compared to 17% of Democrats. Additionally 71% of Republicans describe themselves as “respectful of authority” compared to 61% of Democrats with 58% of Republicans describing themselves as traditional while only 19% of Democrats describing that way.^[11] Of liberal Democrats, 87% of them describe themselves as open minded compared to 49% who identify as conservatives while 51% of conservatives being skeptical of experts compared to 14% of liberal Democrats.^[12]

See also

• Belief perseverance – Maintenance of a belief despite new information that firmly contradicts it
• Filter bubble – Intellectual isolation through internet algorithms
• Openness to experience – Personality trait
• Rationality – Quality of being agreeable to reason