The Human Mind’s Trap
What I’m about to describe is something you’ll recognize, but I’d also like you to understand it.
Human minds are self-referential. We observe not only our bodily actions, but we observe and remember our mental actions. That’s an amazing thing, but it does run right into the trap I’m referring to today.
This trap involves two other in-born human characteristics:
The various parts of our minds (or brain routines, or whatever we may call them) can overpower each other. You’ve certainly felt this when you “talked yourself into” one choice or another, while another part of you still thought it might not be right.
We have a need to not contradict ourselves. We don’t want ourselves to be guilty of some error in our own eyes. People have often tied evaluations of themselves to politics (as in, I’m a good person because I support XYZ). Other times people are simply afraid of being shamed.
This is the trap: Once you recognize a mistake, or even a threat to your previous choices, it feels safer to destroy it than to face it. Facing it, after all, may make you feel bad and may give others an opportunity to chop you down.
And so people are crazily determined to not admit a fault or to change their beloved opinions. In situations where the pressures are high, people will become stubborn beyond sanity to avoid changing their minds. They are thus trapped, resorting to a version of plugging their ears and saying “La, la la!”… with various levels of damage following.
I hope this makes good enough sense, because it’s a very common and horribly destructive vulnerability. So, get in the habit of admitting your ignorance and any legitimate errors; it will make further course-correction easier for you.
Although I don't agree with most of his economic theories, there is a quote from John Maynard Keynes that I think is a classic. He was assailed by one of his peer for changing his opinion on some issue of the day, and he replied, "When the facts change, I change my opinion. What do you do, sir?"
I have long noted that most people fall into two camps, the curious and the opinionated. The curious have opinions, but they are willing to challenge them, and to change them if the facts and circumstances warrant. The opinionated are not willing to change, but will fight and argue, terminate friendships and family ties even, rather than admit, to themselves or others, that they are mistaken on any opinion they hold. I strive diligently to remain curious.
So wise!