How would you define “closed mindedness”?

Personally, I define it as “unwillingness to assume other viewpoints” or “unwillingness to look at things from a different perspective”.

Your definition is adequate but there are so many factors that factor in to "unwillingness to assume other viewpoints". In my interactions I think many closed minded people have some of the following reasons for being the way they are.
-not a lot of life experience-may have been sheltered
-brought up in a repressive home environment
-scared of change or making decisions on their own
-limited educational background or a strict educational background
-not exposed to a diverse population with varied opinions

Yes, I agree that all those factors can contribute to causing closed mindedness.

I was just looking more toward "definition" than "cause".

Well, I agree with your definition

The problem I have with your definition is that it doesn't cover those who are unwilling to accept new information.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Closed_mind

I agree with skyhook and spider. Close minded people are unwilling to look at things from a different perspective and unreceptive to new ideas and info.

Ok, I can see that. So maybe I should clariy further...

When I think of "viewpoint" I consider it to be an aggregate of accepted information and it's interrelationships. Thus, to me "accepting new information" would be virtually synonymous with "assuming a new (different) viewpoint".

So really, I'm in agreement with you.