A conviction is a belief that takes on the mantle of commitment—a call to action—because it reflects our self-identity. It reflects the kind of person we aspire to be, and the kinds of groups and tribes we wish to belong to. That is why attacks on our convictions seem like attacks on our identity—because they are. But that is also why we often ignore evidence against our convictions; to give them up would be to change who we imagine ourselves to be.
