The scientists suggest that those who disagreed with the argument tended to ‘dehumanise’ the subject in general, but this happened far less frequently when people heard the other person’s voice or saw them speak. Photo: AFPNow we have a scientific explanation for why most discussions on social media platforms such as Facebook eventually descend into the darkness of an argument. A study by the University of California Berkeley and the University of Chicago suggests that we are less likely to dismiss someone’s observations and arguments if we listened to them or watched the person speak aloud in person, rather than read what they write on Facebook. The scientists suggest that those who disagreed with the argument tended to “dehumanise” the subject in general, but this happened far less frequently when people heard the other person’s voice or saw them speak. Because another person’s mind cannot be experienced directly, its quality must be inferred from indirect cues”—this is in reference to the aspect of communication when it is written instead of spoken.

Source: Mint December 11, 2017 05:03 UTC