I very much enjoyed Toma’s discussion regarding the potential pitfalls inherent in a 'moderate' approach. I consciously choose not to ascribe to any particular political label or position on the ideological spectrum – be it liberal, centrist or conservative. I prefer to look at each political issue both contextually and in isolation to determine for myself what I feel is ‘right’ in each instance, rather then wed myself to a stock, ‘take-it-or-leave-it’ political platform. Would I call this moderate? Probably not. I inevitably end up adopting ideas espoused by the supposedly ‘conservative’ wing on some issues, while steadfastly maintaining views deemed to be ‘liberal’ or even ‘socialist’ on others. I prefer to call it a ‘nuanced’ or ‘pragmatic’ approach, although – I must confess – it is merely an attempt to remain pragmatic, independent, and open-minded, and one I often struggle with in the current political climate.

I also share Michelle’s struggle with determining “when and to what extent being radical is the most effective approach” for inducing social change. While I whole-heartedly respect John Brown’s strength of conviction and courage, Leff’s comments regarding the social psychology of cognitive dissonance makes me question the efficacy of this approach with regards to the art of persuading our opponents that change is necessary. The Sunk Cost Fallacy and the social-psychological concept of cognitive dissonance help to explain why individuals, states and nations – even in the face of opposing moral argument, radical action, or pragmatic rhetoric – adhere to beliefs that we may find to be outrageous, ill-conceived and unfounded. As Leff notes, “after a man has committed himself to a particular course of action, especially if making the decision was important enough to have filled him with great stress when he made it, he will tend to suppress (to the point that he will not even perceive) any information which would tend to indicate to him that he made a mistake, and he will tend to seek out (to the point of inventing) data supportive of the decision he made.” I feel like this speaks particularly well to divisive social issues, or those which induce “great stress” in people who feel forced to choose a 'side'. Once you have committed yourself to a viewpoint on an issue, you have ‘sunk a cost’ and invested in that viewpoint. At the risk of losing face or being lost in a perpetual state of chaotic indecision, you tend to adhere to and actively reinforce that viewpoint, even in the face of compelling evidence to the contrary.

I think this concept – if true - poses a problem for those who adopt a radical approach to social change as a sustainable, long-term strategy. While useful for shedding light on prevailing social wrongs, I feel as though radicalism may lack the power to persuade those who have sunk a cost in their, perhaps sorely mistaken, beliefs and who consequently cling to those beliefs with a religious zeal in attempt to maintain the comfort of cognitive dissonance and prevent the soul splitting that may inevitably follow enlightened acceptance of an oppositional truth. Perhaps it would be more useful to use the skills we can gain through close inter-personal observation, and the social-psychological principles embedded in human interaction, to ‘incept’ concepts for social change into the minds of the unwilling. If we work to improve our knowledge of human behavior and master the art of persuasion, we may one day be able to simply plant the seeds of an idea of our choosing into the subconscious of our audience members and allow this seed to grow organically into the idea on its own. By employing some of the methods identified by Leff (under non-nefarious pretenses), it might be possible make each audience member think that they arrived at our pre-determined conclusion of their own accord; to believe that – rather than having been persuaded – their free mind met our free mind on a equal playing field.

I see this as finding the precise moment/point/place of effective human interception – the spot where we can apply the least grease to the spokes on the wheel of social change to give it its own dynamic force. Now, I’m not saying that this will work in all cases. A radical approach may be the only feasible option in certain circumstances. But I think that sometimes we may wisely choose not to confront those we are trying to persuade with radical, oppositional argument - from which they may run screaming in attempt to preserve their established cognitive dissonance. Instead, all that may be required is a subtle wink and nod – a proposition that there may be ‘something in our position for them’, from which they may draw their own inferences, form their own conclusions, sink their own costs, and follow the position we have incepted them into believing is organically their own with a renewed passion and fervor.

-- MeaganBurrows - 20 Mar 2012