Recently, I’ve realized that I have a peculiar habit. Whenever I read or hear something, I play devil’s advocate. Even if it is something I agree with, my mind always tends to explore the other side as well.
At first, I wondered if I only do this because I’m argumentative. When I started to think about it, I realized that it stems from a long-held belief: It is important to know why you believe what you believe.
That’s where playing devil’s advocate comes in. You have to know the reasons behind your beliefs, or your advice is essentially meaningless. If you can’t defend your beliefs, then they are of little use.
When you play devil’s advocate, you’re choosing to be considerate and critical of the beliefs of those who are different from you. I believe that is an important skill.
Luckily, there’s almost always an opportunity to do so. With every social media post you come across and every argument you overhear, you can choose to play devil’s advocate with it. You can get as crazy and creative as you want with it.
Doing this serves different purposes. First of all, it helps to foster empathy for those holding different beliefs. I think if we made more attempts in this manner, we would see a lot less fighting and a lot more strategic problem-solving.
Second, it helps to further develop critical thinking skills and creativity. Playing devil’s advocate, especially when you see something you initially agree with, helps you see things from another angle. A lot of times, people have trouble seeing validity in opposing arguments.
It helps you recognize the experiences which have shaped the worldview of others, and recognize that many other people live much differently than you. They come from all different backgrounds, cultures, experiences and different levels of education.
People form beliefs about the world from what they know and have experienced. This is important to remember when we consider what someone believes. Sometimes, it really takes putting yourself in someone else’s shoes to understand their beliefs.
Playing devil’s advocate doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to change your mind about your initial belief, although my perspective often shifts when I do so. It doesn’t require a change of your morals either.
It simply helps you have a deeper thought process when forming opinions. I believe that this is especially important when it comes to political issues.
When it comes to politics, it is important that policies are formed that will best serve as many people as possible, rather than just a minority.
While you might hold a certain belief, it is important to recognize that the general population, filled with people who disagree with you, is not forced to live a lifestyle that caters to your beliefs.
Sure, you might believe that homosexuality is morally wrong. That doesn’t mean that we should outlaw gay marriage so that people who don’t believe that way are stripped of their marriage rights. That’s not what would best serve the general population.
My point is, attempting to look at the point of view and experiences of others is beneficial. It provides an opportunity to examine your own beliefs and adjust them accordingly, as well as develop a deeper understanding of others and cultivate empathy for them.
When we play devil’s advocate, even just in our own minds, everyone benefits, including you. Even if your views don’t really change much, you develop a deeper understanding of and argument for why you believe the way you do, which is important.
If you’ve never tried this, I’d like to encourage you to try it when you hear something controversial. You might be surprised at how much you can learn just by taking your thinking a step further.