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this post was submitted on 17 Sep 2023
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We don't deserve this, or at least most people don't.
I used to think that way as well, but I came to realize that a significant amount of 'bad' that I see in the world, of people voting against their own interests or rejecting reality; People like that were purposefully created, caught up in a machine of purposeful ignorance that the people in power wield as a tool. You and I were just lucky enough to have been exposed to the right people, the right material, the right friends, etc, to where we became interested in learning about the world, on becoming truly educated.
I'm not sure how I would've ended up if I had grown up in a family that didn't encourage intellectual development, or a failing underfunded school filled with teachers that do NOT have the knack to teach or inspire curiosity, of if I had grown up in an area that actively encourage anti-intellectualism, etc.
There's so many factors involved in why someone is fighting against their own interests, some are truly awful people, but others simply didn't have the tools to defend themselves against the propaganda, and once in it, struggle to escape from it if they're feeling the acceptance of being in a group of some kind, where the 'Disconfirmed Expectancy' phenomena takes hold strongly.
That's not to say we shouldn't fight against them, regardless of how they came to that place, but I do not hold extreme hatred for them or think we should all be purified in a fire because they exist. I pity them.
I do hate the people who purposefully keep that machine working, though. The ones who know exactly what they're doing.
How disconfirmed expectancy applies here? Can you give me an example? Very good post by the way!
A person that grew up around conservative values and who's friends are all conservatives with deeply held beliefs will find it very difficult to reject those beliefs and ideals even when confronted with compelling evidence, as doing so would ostracize them from their group/tribe. To eliminate the feeling of cognitive dissonance, they will rationalize away the contradictory evidence, and actually increase the conviction of their beliefs in doing so. If this is done long enough and often enough, they will have constructed their entire identity around this framework of eliminating the cognitive dissonance, to the point that any attempt to deconstruct these beliefs will essentially be interpreted as an attack on themselves, as they can no longer separate themselves from their beliefs.
In the case of Global Warming, many people have been denying that it exists for so long to maintain their in-group status, that as conditions worsen, they will likely find new and inventive ways to justify the belief that it doesn't exist instead of simply admitting that their previous position was incorrect.
According to the studies into prophetic cults, only 1 out of 12 groups disbanded when their prophecy was proven false, the others found new ways to continue with even deeper convictions. In many ways, conservatism is its own cult, with its own beliefs and convictions. Without adequate education or critical thinking skills to defend against its propaganda, it is almost inevitable that one will fall prey to their designs, and once in, it is very difficult to escape unless one has access to support groups (friends or family) that will accept you after changing your beliefs.
A clear example of disconfirmed expectancy is with Trump supporters. He was heralded as an outsider that would drain the swamp of corruption in our government, but obviously did nothing of the sort. In fact, it only became more and more obvious as time went on that he was an incompetent narcissist that cared nothing for the people who supported him. But people had already put so much of themselves in supporting him, in applying all their ideals to him, that a cult formed around him. Now every accusation, every attempt to discredit, and any evidence showing his own corruption and lack of principles is shown only reinforces the cult's belief that he is their savior, and any talk otherwise will get ejected from the group.
It's very difficult to get people to sever themselves from the people that gives them a feeling of community, family, or friendship, even if that group is ultimately self destructive.