THINKING 101, Lesson 4: Cognitive Dissonance and Denial

It is very difficult to hold two conflicting facts, observations, ideas, or beliefs in our minds. We get very uncomfortable, and usually push one of them away by denying it.

If the conflict is between two facts or observations, it usually means we don't fully understand one or both. When this happens, most people just get frustrated and say, "That can't be!" about one of the two.

If the conflict is between two ideas or beliefs, the most "deeply held" notion (often the one we learned or chose in childhood) usually wins, and the other is pushed away, regardless of its validity or utility.

For most people, the process of denial during cognitive dissonance seems to be necessary to avoid insanity, even though the "winner" is not always the best choice.

A person who really wants to understand the universe should go as slowly as possible when tempted to deny something that intuition tells us might be true or useful. Perhaps it is being analyzed with the wrong tools or assumptions. If the right tools are found, it may cease to be in conflict with other things, but doing that can take extra time and effort. If it leads to understanding something complicated but important, it may be worth it.