How words change minds: The science of storytelling | Nat Kendall-Taylor | TEDxMidAtlanticSalon

Sometimes a good idea isn't enough to drive social change; more important is how you communicate that idea. This is where "issue framing" comes in. In his talk, Nat Kendall-Taylor, PhD, breaks down the science of framing for philanthropy and nonprofit communications. He explores how people think about social issues and how advocates, experts, and strategic communications professionals can use an understanding of culture, storytelling, and science to communicate about social and scientific issues, shape policy, and lead change.

Dr. Kendall-Taylor is an anthropologist and Chief Executive Officer at the FrameWorks Institute. He oversees the organization’s pioneering, research-based approach to strategic communications and message development, which uses methods from the social and behavioral sciences to measure how people understand complex socio-political issues and tests ways to reframe them to drive social change. As CEO, he leads a multi-disciplinary team of social scientists and communications professionals who investigate ways to apply innovative framing research methods to social issues and train nonprofit organizations to put the findings into practice.

[RedAndBlueAndOthersToo]

I find this field of conversation to be so important. As someone who is interested in taking up a career in journalism/political commentating, my goal has been to understand why people think what they do; how they come to learn or form opinions, and how story telling and rhetoric play a role within that. Understanding *how* to communicate is a difficult skill that many assume to be inherent. It’s a conscious effort!

[Bpt]

One of the best TED talks I've ever seen. VERY worthwhile!

[قناةأصواتالطبيعة-سز]

His warning is up rather true, but i'm happy that i persisted till the end, knowing about this science and how it can be used in the right way, and i can see how it could be used in bad ways, is rather cool to know about.

[anflow]

@2:21 key point, ' how we present the information may be the determining factor to acceptance.'

[valentinaralkin]

"there is one person...that will be having fun during this talk...that will be me"

[theplaylabchicago]

Excellent and the results were very telling!

[heathercoady]

As someone committed to social change and tired of banging my head off the same old brick walls this is inspirational!

[jamesjohn]

You framed empathy with compassion. There is your problem. Instead, frame empathy as the most powerful, highest form of knowledge you can ever learn. The power of understanding others and their situation (perspective) gives you knowledge on how to change their undesired behavior/addiction.

[carsonentertainment]

WOW! Love it man. Storytelling is passion + connectivity to your audience. I like how he mentioned that the way you think can influence the way a story can be told. I’ll have to do this on my storytelling channel. Love it. 🙌🏻

[dcaesar]

language is a social contract where agree upon the meaning of what certain characters (letters) and the words they form. One thing that is occurring now is the assumption that we have (or should have) the same understanding and thus emotional connection of words.

[kellyd]

Awesome! Very informative and inspiring. Thank you!

[prince-englishbullterrierbaz]

Fantastic talk!

Framing? Agist? I think people are more afraid of ageing/getting old? I know I was in my twenties and thirties?

I’m interested to know how framing relates to; Manipulation? Coercion? Propaganda?

MaTeWa!

[LisaLaMagna]

Why message research and testing matters: "You think you have a slam-dunk way of talking about your issue, because it works great on your 2 closest colleagues."

[bananaman]

We think when we speak we’re being CRYSTAL CLEAR,

but if you don’t fully understand the values, biases and priorities of your listener, YOULL LOOSE THEIR ATTENTION Or worse, they’ll believe the exact opposite

The way we frame ideas in our own mind or when we communicate MATTERS

How your frame an issue or topic of discussion determines exactly how your message will be received IF AT ALL

This also requires you’re presence with the speaker and your ability to gauge how your message is being received

Our cultural narratives drive us forward. How we speak determines how we are received. And our most popular stories define the culture: define us.

What you say and think and do matters because you are a node in a network that connects to all of us.

Think about that next time you casually allow a sub par thought to pass through your thumbs or lips

[ItsFundamental]

Changing biases with framing is a pretty interesting concept maybe it could be used to reduce other biases like racism in the police force

[jafquist]

Not to be mean, but I came away wondering: What is "framing"?

[VickiePonce-nyyj]

Important take away that we don't like older people. I would like to learn framing to help us change our implicit bias and encourage volunteerism to help older adults.

[jasmeetk]

i came for storytelling but it was still an amazing talk! the audience was kinda dead to the jokes but i enjoyed it =)

[AnnaMaledonPictureBookAuthor]

What matters is the HOW not WHAT you are selling ( it could be an idea, service, product, reform or yourself ). Frame it the right way for the audience and yo can sell it to many. Packaging and delivery matters.

[billmahoney]

Framing is simply how a perspective is given to a person in context from another person. However, how the message is received is the kicker. Did the person listening understand what you were saying or even the important parts of what you said? Did they get the entire message or just pieces of the message. The importance learning to communicate and be open to each other, the person sending the message, and the person receiving the message. This is why framing is essential in creating clear understanding in communication.