[LINK] Cognitive Dissonance [Was: Mind Chauvinism - a quote and a link]

[David Boxall]

On 28/05/2011 10:24 PM, Rachel Polanskis wrote:
> ...
> I have recently discovered the concept of "cognitive dissonance",   which is the
> concept of holding a tacit belief in something while at the same also covertly believing
> that it ain't neccessarily so.   Common sufferers of this could include Tony Abbott (or almost
> any politician, really),  The Pope,  IT salesfolk who recommend PC/windows to banking
> enviornments and practically everyone in television.
> ...

More accurately, believing one thing but finding ourselves forced by 
circumstances to believe another. Interestingly, the greater the 
dissonance the more fiercely we will resist anything that tends to 
endanger the new belief.

Explains much about the word in which we live. For example, someone in 
business might be well aware of the dangers of global warming but a 
necessary emphasis on the quarterly bottom line forces them to believe 
otherwise.

-- 
David Boxall                    |  The more that wise people learn
                                |  The more they come to appreciate
http://david.boxall.id.au       |  How much they don't know.
                                                         --Confucius