Former President Abraham Lincoln. Underlying Lincoln’s achievements and speeches was his capability to be open-minded, change his ideas and opinions, and hear and study from others. Deseret Information archives
In August 1864, Abraham Lincoln invited Wisconsin Gov. Alexander Williams Randal and Decide Joseph Mills to the Soldier’s Residence for a dialogue on emancipation measures. Later, Mills recorded in his diary, “I used to be astonished at his (Lincoln’s) elasticity of spirits.”
When most People report on why they assume Lincoln was the nation’s biggest president, they usually comment on his important achievements: he efficaciously pursued a political battle and civil conflict that preserved the Union, ended slavery and created the potential for civil freedom for African People. Lincoln’s Gettysburg Deal with is taken into account one of many biggest presidential speeches in American historical past, however his different discourses, such because the “Home Divided” speech, are additionally considered distinguished.
However underlying Lincoln’s achievements and speeches was his capability to be open-minded, to alter his ideas and opinions, and to hear and study from others, together with those that had opposing viewpoints and had been merciless to him. In psychology, this capability to thoughtfully think about totally different views and opinions is known as cognitive elasticity or cognitive flexibility.
Conversely, cognitive rigidity is the lack to adapt or change mentally, and this situation is usually on the root of many psychological well being problems, relationship issues, hatred and interpersonal and neighborhood battle. Cognitive inflexibility predicts extremist attitudes. I imagine Lincoln’s greatness flowed from his “elasticity of spirits” and esteem for compromise.
Edwin M. Stanton served because the nation’s secretary of conflict beneath Lincoln and is credited with turning a deeply dysfunctional Struggle Division right into a high-functioning cupboard that helped the North win the conflict. What's most outstanding concerning the Lincoln-Stanton relationship, nonetheless, was Lincoln’s angle towards Stanton.
Lincoln first met Stanton in the summertime of 1855, seven years earlier than Stanton would function secretary of conflict, and briefly, Stanton handled Lincoln with contempt. This stemmed from a a court docket case during which each males had been concerned, McCormick v. Manny, which pitted excellent patent legal professionals towards one another.
Lincoln had been requested by George Harding (representing Manny) to arrange authorized briefs, because the trial was to be held in Chicago, and Harding needed a neighborhood lawyer who understood Illinois legislation. When the case was transferred to Cincinnati, Harding eliminated Lincoln from the case and partnered with the highly effective and sensible Stanton. Nevertheless, Lincoln was not knowledgeable of his elimination, continued to work on the case and traveled to Cincinnati to be a part of the Harding group.
After Lincoln and Stanton meet, Stanton took Harding apart and reportedly known as Lincoln a “long-armed ape” and stated “He doesn't know something and may do you no good.”
In these days, touring legal professionals stayed on the similar lodge and ate meals collectively, however Stanton and Harding excluded Lincoln and wouldn't invite him to their desk for meals or to speak. However Lincoln’s “elasticity of spirits” took over as he stayed in Cincinnati for all the week as he needed to review how an impressive and nationally recognized lawyer (Stanton) argued a case.
So moved was he by Stanton’s work and authorized argument, Lincoln recalled that he stood in “rapt consideration” and later revealed to pals Ralph E. Emerson and his spouse Adaline Elizabeth Talcott Emerson that he had by no means witnessed a presentation so sensible and completely ready. He decided from the expertise that he ought to research the legislation higher with the intention to enhance his personal expertise.
Lincoln had the cognitive flexibility to direct his thoughts to study from somebody who handled him poorly. In at present’s local weather of divisiveness and battle, what Lincoln did is virtually unimaginable. At their subsequent encounter, six years later, Lincoln would provide Stanton probably the most highly effective cupboard submit as a result of he knew he wanted Stanton’s very good talent set to win the Civil Struggle.
Within the language of modern-day psychology, Lincoln had a “progress mindset” that allowed him to reframe his considering regardless of Stanton’s repudiation and insults.
Cognitive elasticity is usually on the basis of advanced considering, humility, thoughtfulness, forgiveness, compassion, empathy and excellent decision-making.
Stanton’s personal secretary, E. A. Johnson, made it very clear how “completely and irreconcilable in contrast to” these two males had been. As one instance, Johnson stated that Stanton was all dignity, sternness, and would take hardships with a groan, whereas Lincoln all simplicity, good nature, and would discover a joke to inform throughout hardships. But Johnson stated that each males had been higher when harnessed collectively.
Lincoln’s “elasticity of spirits” ultimately led him to rethink and recast core constitutional ideas (e.g., the federal authorities couldn't use armed pressure to stop a state from seceding) and altered the Structure’s framework. His cognitive flexibility directed him to problem the Emancipation Proclamation on Jan. 1, 1863, which declared “that every one individuals held as slaves” inside the rebellious states “are, and henceforward shall be free.”
All through his life, Lincoln was at all times recognized to hold a guide, and he used a lot of his free time studying the Bible and books about all kinds of various points — which, in itself, is an motion of listening to a different individual in a sustained method, which creates the talent set for cognitive elasticity.
And to be honest to his famously various cupboard, lots of the males Lincoln relied on additionally had the talent set of cognitive flexibility, together with Stanton and Secretary of State William H. Seward.
Lincoln admired compromise like many different nice leaders, together with George Washington, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi and Jane Addams. Regardless of his efforts, extremists in each the North and South united to convey concerning the conflict that Lincoln had striven to keep away from.
Think about how America could be at present if extra Democratic and Republican leaders had Lincoln’s “elasticity of spirits.”
Rodney B. Dieser, who has a doctoral diploma, is the writer of seven books and greater than 100 tutorial articles. He's a professor of recreation, tourism and nonprofit management on the College of Northern Iowa, and works as a licensed psychological well being counselor at Wartburg Faculty, a personal Lutheran liberal arts faculty in Waverly, Iowa. The views expressed listed here are his personal.