The Irrational Ape: Why Flawed Logic Puts us all at Risk and How Critical Thinking Can Save the World

by David Robert Grimes

This question captured the attention of pioneering psychologist Leon Festinger, who postulated that simultaneously holding two or more contradictory beliefs on a topic might lead to a form of mental agitation. He termed this ‘cognitive dissonance’, the discomfort a person feels when they encounter information or actions that conflict with those they already hold. When confronted with clashing information, we endeavour to quell this discomfort. We might accept that our preconceived notions may be flawed or incomplete, and – like an ideal scientist – refine our views in light of new evidence. But to alter our ideological leanings is cognitively expensive; an easier option is simply to deny reality in order to preserve our beliefs. In Festinger’s paradigm, motivated reasoning is a mechanism to stave off discomfort from conflicting information, ‘motivating’ us to accept soothing falsehood over challenging realities.