"In a series of studies in 2005 and 2006, researchers at the University of Michigan found that when misinformed people, particularly political partisans, were exposed to corrected facts in news stories, they rarely changed their minds. In fact, they often became even more strongly set in their beliefs. Facts, they found, were not curing misinformation. Like an underpowered antibiotic, facts could actually make misinformation even stronger."

He goes on to quote one of the researchers of the study:

“The general idea is that it’s absolutely threatening to admit you’re wrong,” says political scientist Brendan Nyhan, the lead researcher on the Michigan study. The phenomenon — known as “backfire” — is “a natural defense mechanism to avoid that cognitive dissonance.”

This bodes ill for Democracy. But although he explains how this human tendency is intensified by the information explosion, my personal experience and study show clearly that it is not a new phenomenon.  In Ronald Wright's exploration entitled "A brief history of progress" he meticulously explores the entrails of past civilizations that have collapsed due to a lethal mix of corruption and cognitive dissonance. And even in our own time we have seen many examples of political, religious, and community "leaders" building a power base on patently absurd and unsubstantiated "facts" that are perpetuated and repeated by the populace at large.

As a result of this mechanism having a functioning democracy proves to be a much deeper challenge than just insuring that everyone has the right to vote. As the events of this new century have shown it is a mechanism that affects each and every one of us. Whether you are looking for a job, suffering from the real estate meltdown, concerned about your pension, appalled at the high cost of gas, frightened by the global degradation of the environment, unable to afford health care or dismayed by the ballooning deficit, you are seeing the results of cognitive dissonance preventing the voting public from exploring and understanding information on merit and fact.

In writing this portal, publishing my web sites and engaging on facebook I have sought to break through this veil and present a rational perspective of events that affect us all. I have spent a lifetime pealing back the layers of the onion, seeking the underlying causes for the injustices in our world. At this point I have identified tribalism and cognitive dissonance as the two human traits that lie at the root of our modern malaise.

The challenge I now face is what to do with this knowledge. My preference, like most of yours I expect, is to allow my cognitive defenses to rule and simply ignore what I have learned in favor of a world view of peace and harmony. All I really wish to do in life is enjoy this awesome planet with My Love by my side. Watch the sunrises, sail the seas, plant a garden, build a house.

I have written this portal for some years and have received many positive comments. I have shifted its focus from time to time as my awareness shifted but have not lost sight of the spiritual underpinnings of my being. Ultimately what causes me to publish is the knowledge that I am privileged and the sense of responsibility and desire to facilitate a better world for my fellow human beings in this generation and all that follow.

Maybe you could allow yourself the courage to confront your own cognitive dissonance and explore new ideas on their merit, wherever you may find them. Why not open your self to discussions with individuals who have conflicting views, read a new publication or seek your news from an alternative source. Watch your reaction and become aware of when cognitive dissonance raises your defenses and blinds you to new information. I think you will be amazed at the results.

On a beam of light
Thomas.

Boston Globe article on cognitive dissonance
http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/ideas/articles/2010/07/11/how_facts_backfire/

Why 911 matters
http://www.fortheloveoflife.net/ideas/911why.htm

Sound file on cognitive dissonance
http://www.fortheloveoflife.net/ideas/blindspot.htm

Ronald Wright, 2004 Massey Lecture
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Short_History_of_Progress