Facts and figures often fail to convince someone on the opposing side.

Accepting that free will is an illusion resets the conversation.

No one freely became who they are, but we can influence who they become.

Persuasion is a marathon that is won by building trust and understanding.

If it seems that Americans are more polarized than ever, eagerly segregating into “us versus them” camps on every issue, it’s not your imagination. Polls suggest that Americans are creating divides amongst themselves faster than other nations, which threatens national security and well-being.

What hope is there for civil democracy when we are so fervently divided that the impetus to understand one another evaporates? How can you have a constructive conversation with people who directly oppose your values or deny the facts as you see them?

As a scientist who engages in public outreach, I frequently encounter skeptics of topics like climate change, vaccines, and evolution. My responses used to be counterattacks, drawing on an arsenal of facts and figures. As my fellow science communicators will admit with befuddlement, this strategy often fails, especially on topics that have become politically charged. How do you break through to someone so divorced from the reality you know?

No one forms their beliefs in a vacuum

When science skeptics scoff at attempts to rectify a knowledge deficit, we conclude they are being willfully ignorant and disengage. This unproductive response ignores mounting evidence that free will is an illusion. Invisible forces beyond our control shape personality, behavior, and beliefs. We don’t pick our genes. We had........

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