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Originally Posted by 46zilzal
Things stand up or fail based upon the science, not faith. One believes out of evidence not some blind adherence to the theoretical.
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There is an almost overwhelming drive in people to support their existing views, despite strong, convincing, and "scientific" proof to the contrary. Generally referred to as "bias," it is the human tendency to discriminate--to only consider valid that which supports their beliefs, and to ignore disconfirming evidence.
That is not my personal opinion. It is the opinion of most scholars, academics, and specialists in the fields of decision theory and information management. It also happens to be the basis for most advertising, sales, and marketing campaigns; not because it is theory, but because it is reality.
For examples from sources that most would consider "credible," you might be interested in Stiff and Mongeau's critique of Petty and Cacioppo's Elaboration Likelihood Model. That model is more commonly referred to as the Yale Model of Persuasion. For other examples, particularly on the value of preliminary anchoring, you might consider some of Robert Cialdini's work, especially "Influence."
The idea that people are convinced by the "irresistible force of logic" is pretty much a myth. The issue can be encapsulated in the old saying, "Don't try to confuse me with facts, my mind is already made up."
