Sidespersisting

Sidespersisting is a term used in social science and discourse analysis to describe the tendency for opposing sides in a debate or conflict to maintain their positions over time, despite exposure to new information, evidence, or persuasive messaging. The term captures the resilience of stance across individuals and groups and is used in studies of polarization, negotiation, and public discourse.

The word combines sides, indicating rival groups or viewpoints, with persisting, signaling the durability of attitudes. The concept has appeared in academic writing and policy discussions since the early 2010s, particularly in analyses of online deliberation and conflict resolution.

Mechanisms contributing to sidespersisting include motivated reasoning, confirmation bias, and selective exposure, which cause people to reinterpret new information in a way that supports their existing beliefs. Social identity processes, in-group reinforcement, and reputational concerns further reduce openness to changing positions. Structural factors such as echo chambers, algorithmic filtering, and lack of joint problem-solving opportunities also reinforce persistence.

Researchers study sidespersisting through experiments, longitudinal surveys, and content analyses of debates, forums, and negotiations. Metrics include the fraction of participants who shift their stance, time to reach convergence, and the degree of cross-cutting compromise observed in interactions.

Implications for policy and mediation are significant. Sidespersisting can hinder consensus-building, complicate conflict resolution, and require deliberate interventions such as neutral framing, structured problem-solving tasks, and incentives for transparency. Critics note that the term overlaps with broader concepts like polarization and entrenchment and may be used loosely outside rigorous empirical work.

See also: polarization, entrenchment, motivated reasoning, confirmation bias, echo chamber.