top of page
Search
  • Writer's pictureDr. Clarence Trausch
    • Feb 18, 2022
    • 1 min read

The Devil’s Advocate Principle (DAP)

Research* demonstrates that people who seek to find and construct “facts” in support of their preexisting opinions and biases** do not change or alter their position when confronted with concrete evidence to the contrary. Rather, they become more attached to and more vigorously defend their faulty opinion. It is only when they were asked to take on a “devil’s advocate” position and argue against their faulty position that they changes and moved to a more centrist position.


*A psychological experimental study done by market researchers – Scientific American, 2018

**Opinions that fly in the face of facts. Confirmation bias: paying special attention to and embracing arguments- not evidence- that supports ones own viewpoint.


To apply this principle, deliberately seek evidence opposing your position. Then, make a case for that opposing view.

8 views0 comments

Recent Posts

See All

Every day people ask wonderful questions about the meaning of life, the significance of truth, the essence of reality, the purpose of existence, or the pathway to freedom. I so much appreciate these s

Student:  Dr. Trausch, you have been conducting meditation training and wilderness meditation retreats for many decades.  How did this begin? Dr. T:    It began when I entered a monastic order, the So

When democracy mutates to oligarchy, as it will eventually, this centralization of authority, and polarization of power will be met by its extreme counterpart, anarchy.  Peaceful insurrection will be

bottom of page