And once we’ve got a point of view, we’re unlikely to change it. In her popular TED Talk, “Why You Think You’re Right Even When You’re Wrong,” Julia Galef, host of the podcast Rationally Speaking, calls that rigidity “soldier mindset.” A soldier’s job is to protect and defend their side. Conversely, there’s the “scout mindset.” Galef says, “Scout mindset means seeing what’s there as accurately as you can, even if it’s not pleasant.” Soldiers have already signed on to a cause, so they value continuity. Scouts are investigating their options, so they value truth. Soldier mindset is rooted in
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