World Peace vs. Defense Mechanisms
"Some people say world peace isn't possible, We have people all over the world in here and we're all at peace with each other. All different races, all difference religions, and all different countries, So haven't we shown them world peace and acceptance is possible... Ponder that!!!" Chris Carpenter, Ditch The Hate
It has to do with psychological defense mechanisms.
While most people I know are accepting of others, there are the zealots, who for whatever reason, despise those whom they consider to be inferior. Though they are in the minority, they raise such a ruckus, that they seem to be everywhere.
There’s the joke, “How many psychologists does it take to change a lightbulb?” Only one, BUT, the lightbulb has got to want to change.
And that’s the problem, getting people to want to modify their behaviors. If it were easy, there’d be no need for psychologists.
Orwell wrote that if we want to solve the common problems we all face, people have got to stop choosing sides and fighting against each other, and instead cooperate.
He also said that while we all have bias to some degree, the key was to identifying them, and work at mitigating them.
The term I’ve seen used for this is “intellectual dishonesty,” though I sometimes use “willful ignorance.”
On Facebook, I’ve worked at getting people to see the world objectively. The problem is that any notion that questions their bias is typically met with resistance. Often instead of being viewed as someone working towards ending animosity, you’re often seen as one of the enemy. Facebook 10/29/16
While most people I know are accepting of others, there are the zealots, who for whatever reason, despise those whom they consider to be inferior. Though they are in the minority, they raise such a ruckus, that they seem to be everywhere.
There’s the joke, “How many psychologists does it take to change a lightbulb?” Only one, BUT, the lightbulb has got to want to change.
And that’s the problem, getting people to want to modify their behaviors. If it were easy, there’d be no need for psychologists.
Orwell wrote that if we want to solve the common problems we all face, people have got to stop choosing sides and fighting against each other, and instead cooperate.
He also said that while we all have bias to some degree, the key was to identifying them, and work at mitigating them.
The term I’ve seen used for this is “intellectual dishonesty,” though I sometimes use “willful ignorance.”
On Facebook, I’ve worked at getting people to see the world objectively. The problem is that any notion that questions their bias is typically met with resistance. Often instead of being viewed as someone working towards ending animosity, you’re often seen as one of the enemy. Facebook 10/29/16