Research shows that people who approach the world with “intellectual humility” have a better command of facts, better memory and better impulse control, says John Medina, a developmental molecular biologist who focuses on brain development. As a result, they manage conflict better, he adds.
“Researchers like me define humility as the simple willingness to accept that your beliefs and opinions may occasionally need some updating, particularly if there’s new information,” Medina, an affiliate professor of bioengineering at the University of Washington School of Medicine, told a session of NCSL’s Base Camp.
“Most people who have problems with intellectual humility don’t know it.”
—John Medina, developmental molecular biologist
It’s a skill set that may be particularly relevant to legislators who seek to find solutions and reassure the public about the work of politicians, he says.
“Intellectual humility improves memory and your ability to control your emotions—which, by the way, impulse control is the cornerstone of executive function that we talk about when we talk about boosting brain power,” Medina says.
Medina says intellectual humility can also appear as “confident humility.” He says the seeming contradiction works because someone can have confidence in their reasoning if they pair it with humility that would prompt them to keep exploring and questioning their conclusions.
Intellectual humility also promotes better conflict management, he says.
“People who boost their intellectual humility scores become measurably better at conflict management, (and) are more successful at navigating and resolving conflict than people who score low,” he says.
In large part that’s because they engage in healthy conflict, based on ideas not personal traits, he says.
“People who score high here are less willing to name-call during a fight, are less willing to verbally interrupt. During heated exchanges, they are less willing to demonize their opponents, less willing to objectify them,” Medina says.
A recent Utah governor’s race put this to the test, he says.
In 2020, candidates Spencer Cox, a Republican, and Chris Peterson, Democrat, agreed to forego attacks.
“Their campaigns got together and created a joint political advertisement with some unusual campaign promises,” Medina says. “‘We promise to remain civil,’” Spencer says, ‘We promise to steer clear of hatred and divisive personal attacks,’ Chris says, ‘We promise to accept the outcome of the election regardless of who wins.’”
Medina says the approach was so unusual that behavioral scientists studied it.
“It affected something larger and much harder to change. It measurably affected the voter’s public faith in the system, specifically faith in American democracy,” Medina says. “The electorate, to everybody’s surprise, got less cynical, less disgusted. The results were so positive they were actually published in the world’s most prestigious scientific journal, Nature.”
It Works for Kids, Too
He says research also shows children make gains when they operate with intellectual humility.
“Students with high intellectual humility get better grades. Intellectually humble students were more receptive to coursework feedback,” he says. “They perceived it as constructive and engaged with it more and had subsequently higher GPAs. You want to have your kids do well in school, you should both practice and teach intellectual humility skills.”
Yes, one can learn and teach these skills. But there are barriers, Medina says.
One he calls the “crisis of certainty.”
“This is where you become so certain about the way the world works, so convinced of your own power to understand it even at the expense of others, that there’s no room for entertaining other points of view,” Medina says. “Overconfidence can lead you to think all kinds of things about your opponents that are actually not true.”
The other barrier is when people lack self-awareness about how they are approaching the world. “Most people who have problems with intellectual humility don’t know it,” he says.
Medina says a couple of “practical, evidence-based steps” can boost your intellectual humility.
“When you form an opinion, ask yourself what would have to happen to prove it false.” He suggests writing down the answers and keeping a journal to actively challenge your assumptions.
He recalled that Warren Buffet’s right-hand man, Charlie Munger, demonstrated his commitment to intellectual humility when he said, “Part of the reason I’ve been a little more successful than most people is I’m good at destroying my own best-loved ideas.”
For further reading on intellectual humility, see Medina’s list of resources.
Kelley Griffin is the host and producer of NCSL’s “Across the Aisle” podcast.