Comments on: Community Contemplation: Changing the World

By: Can One Person Change the World? « The Sky's the Limit

Can One Person Change the World? « The Sky's the Limit — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 16:03:20 +0000

[...] her blog Essential Prose, Zoe Westhof has asked what it takes to change the world. If we are indeed all interconnected in a [...]

By: Zoë

Zoë — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 17:52:19 +0000

Thank you so much Emma — you’ve started another stimulating conversation on your post . Everyone click the link above to read Emma’s post!

By: Emma Newman

Emma Newman — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 16:29:49 +0000

Well, I wrote a post for you at last (I’m hoping the comment luv thingy will show it). This is the first time I’ve written about psychology since being a teacher, and I have to say, I really enjoyed writing it. So thank you for being curious – you inspired me to write about another passion of mine ) (I just hope you enjoy it!)

Emma Newman´s last blog post..How to change the world in five not very easy steps

By: Jé Maverick

Jé Maverick — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 22:37:50 +0000

I will do. I’m as intrigued as you are!

Jé Maverick´s last blog post..The Things You Couldn’t Take – Confessional Poem

By: Zoë

Zoë — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 17:47:43 +0000

@ Jé – Ooh, now she’s got us all in suspense! Keep me posted .

By: Jé Maverick

Jé Maverick — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 19:20:23 +0000

I’ve asked Emma for something more in depth. Perhaps I could persuade her to post it here, or the link to something of more length elsewhere!

Jé Maverick´s last blog post..The Things You Couldn’t Take – Confessional Poem

By: Zoë

Zoë — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 16:27:18 +0000

@ Emma – Well, I’m completely intrigued! I’d love to get a lesson like the one you’ve described above … sounds fascinating. Any chance you’ll blog about this?

By: Emma Newman

Emma Newman — Sat, 30 May 2009 13:46:41 +0000

In my former life as a Psychology teacher, the ability for the minority to change the opinions of the majority was one of my favourite topics. It was one of those lessons where I could really light the fire in my teenage students, ones who had already become jaded in our harsh world. They could see that what I was teaching them was the way to change the world. A rather clever chap called Moscovici proposed that there are four things that a minority viewpoint has to have in order to have the greatest chance of changing the opinion of the majority (i.e. changing the world!). They are: consistency, flexibility, commitment and relevance. There's a ton of stuff I could talk about relating to those, but I don't want to hijack your comments with an impromptu psychology lesson! What I would like to add though is that an understanding of these factors can help those in the minority to influence those in the majority enough to shift their opinions. It starts with private agreement, then there's enough of a groundswell to emerge as a social force - all very exciting. Oops, sorry, I was getting carried away again there, I'll get my coat ;o) Emma Newman´s last blog post..Is there a book big enough for me to hide behind?

By: Zoë

Zoë — Fri, 22 May 2009 07:43:34 +0000

I also want to point you all to Matt’s response post, “The World is Malleable: 15 Tactics for Shaping It”:
http://www.elsewisemedia.com/2009/05/the-world-is-malleable-15-tactics-for-shaping-it/

By: Zoë

Zoë — Fri, 22 May 2009 07:41:06 +0000

@ Meredith – “The world” is so abstract, so it definitely does help to think how we’re defining it! It is pretty amazing to think how much a certain person has transformed your own world. I’m a big believer in empowering others, especially because it’s a powerful way to create that ripple effect you and Kristin brought up .

@ Jé – Beautiful images … sounds like big changes to me

@ Sunday – Yes, recalibration is a great way to put it! If we don’t question our assumptions, it’s doubtful that we’ll work toward meaningful change…