Definition
Openness is the willingness to consider new or different perspectives with curiosity and discernment—not blind acceptance.
Openness
Why it matters
Openness encourages learning, adaptability and meaningful dialogue. It helps people consider new ideas while maintaining critical thinking.
This virtue supports collaboration, creative problem-solving and engagement across differences.
Classroom Activities
Resources to learn more
Complicating the Narratives
What if journalists covered controversial issues differently — based on how humans actually behave when they are polarized and suspicious?
Bridging Differences Playbook
A research-informed guide offering practical tools for bridging divides at intrapersonal, interpersonal and intergroup levels.
How to Lead a Conversation Between People Who Disagree
In a world deeply divided, how do we have hard conversations with nuance, curiosity, respect?