Perspective taking through model building: a path to open-mindedness and de-polarization?

Being open-minded about controversial issues and willing to take other perspectives can help reduce political polarization. We investigated the use of perspective taking through the construction of causal models of conflicting viewpoints, aiming to enhance traits associated with an open-minded mindset and reduce aspects of polarization. In a randomized classroom quasi-experiment, 1479 students in introductory courses at two US universities completed measures of open-mindedness at the beginning and end of the semester. Students in the treatment condition (N = 636) completed three assignments modeling opposing perspectives on controversial issues. While participants in the control condition exhibited declines in perspective- taking, open-minded cognition, and intellectual humility, those in the treatment condition did not. Treatment participants were more likely to perceive attitudinally dissimilar others as rational. These findings suggest students may experience declines in open-mindedness over a semester, but modeling different perspectives may help prevent this, with implications for reducing polarization.