About Us

In the wake of the 2016 presidential election, Americans are discovering that they are more deeply divided than they had realized. Rising cross-partisan hatred is intensifying an “us versus them” attitude that motivates people to accept the worst possible version of the other side’s beliefs, and the most flattering version of their own. These visions are distorted and counterproductive, particularly in universities where the clash of ideas could be so conducive to learning and growth. OpenMind was developed to address these challenges.

OpenMind is a free, interactive, psychology-based platform designed to foster intellectual humility, empathy, and mutual understanding across a variety of differences. OpenMind equips people with the essential cognitive skills and shared language to overcome their differences and work together to solve their collective problems. The OpenMind Platform provides a set of tools which universities, organizations, and corporations can use to depolarize their communities.

OpenMind was incubated within the Heterodox Academy organization. In order to respond to the growing need for such tools in communities, organizations, and institutions beyond college campuses, OpenMind is now a stand-alone project housed within New York University’s Stern School of Business. It is under the supervision of Jonathan Haidt, the Thomas Cooley Professor of Ethical Leadership, and is led by the Director, Caroline Mehl. Although Heterodox Academy and OpenMind are fiscally and organizationally distinct entities, they continue to partner closely and collaborate on numerous initiatives.

OpenMind, Heterodox Academy, Ethical Systems, and Civil Politics are part of the same family of organizations that utilize evidence-based research to create more open, ethical, and inclusive cultures and societies.