By Malinda Osborne

Steve L. Robbins, PhD New and diverse opinions may be difficult to accept, but they enhance understanding and creativity for those who are open-minded.

That was the message delivered by Steve L. Robbins, PhD, at the 5th annual AVMA Diversity Symposium Monday, supported by gold-level sponsor Fort Dodge and co-sponsor Subaru.

"Diversity is something you have to live out to be better at it. Every day you're extending beyond your comfort zone, but our brain doesn't want us to go outside our comfort zone," Robbins said. "Continually trying to learn about yourself and your world every day will help you with diversity."

Robbins explained that one's reality is constructed through experience, which then influences that person's perspective on the world. Though everyone has his or her own beliefs, he said, it's important to note that sometimes even if a person finds out they're wrong, or faced with contradictory information, they may still be inclined to believe they're right. This is called belief perseverance, and is one reason why people are against change or difference of opinion.

When a person becomes comfortable with their reality, they won't notice things that may make others uncomfortable. He gave the example of right-handed people not realizing right-handed scissors or desks can make left-handed people uncomfortable.

Another reason for denying new ideas and thoughts comes from the fact that the brain operates on an efficiency principle. This helps conserve energy because the brain consumes 20 percent to 25 percent of the body's energy. The efficiency principle results in a predilection for people to behave in a certain way so they can stay in their "comfort zones."

"When you do something new, lots of neurons go online and the brain lights up to process it, but after doing it a while, there's fewer neurons required and less brain activity," Robbins said.

When people do encounter ideas or people inconsistent with their beliefs and attitudes, they experience cognitive dissonance, which people try to avoid. To resolve the dissonance, people can be open or closed to the new idea.

They usually opt to deny, Robbins said, "because we think if we walk into the realm of new ideas that we have to accept them, so that prevents people from engaging others who are different."

This is unfortunate for those who chose to deny diverse opinions, because listening to others encourages understanding, creativity, and better problem-solving.

"Our perspectives allow us to see certain problems, but those same perspectives blind us from seeing other problems. We would have a better understanding for other people's perspectives if we're exposed to them, and those new perspectives would also allow us to see certain solutions we might not have otherwise," Robbins said.