Foremost among the many features of the "ASEAN way" is the practice of dialogues and consultations to arrive at a consensus. Dialogues and consultations toward consensus can "bring a meeting of minds," foster a willingness to understand diverse positions, cultivate patience and perseverance, constrain some states to articulate their position. Thus, dialogues can increase the "incidence of cooperation" because they can alter preferences, create a feeling of shared identity, encourage norms, or facilitate promising behavior.