Instruments of change

Something that happens more in fiction than in reality is the hero delivering a noble speech that makes everyone else see how wrong they've been. Whether the hero is marshaling facts, charisma, or both, this eye-opening oration turns the tide.

When I studied communication in grad school, one of the more fascinating issues we discussed was the question of whether persuasive texts ever change readers' minds. According to the research at the time, people's pre-existing opinions actually tended to be reinforced after reading something, whether the text's author was arguing for or against that opinion. (If the text was in opposition to their beliefs, they would strengthen their own opinions by searching for loopholes and counter-arguments as they read.)

There only seemed to be a short window during which people had opinions that could be swayed in one direction or the other. After that, attitudes, once formed, tended to harden.

Of course this is a simplification with variations and exceptions. But it mirrors what I've seen out in the world. And it makes sense--if we could just tell people to change, then changing the world would be a lot simpler!

This can be a challenge for fiction writers because story is all about change. But it suggests that perhaps our characters' changes need to come about through outward experiences or inner insights rather than persuasive words by others. Pondering ...