Cognitive dissonance

So in order to do that, I'm going to explain to you a little bit the science behind it or the psychology behind it.

So we have this thing, this term called cognitive dissonance.

And what this basically means is that when we take an action and it does not align with our beliefs, there is a gap in our mind that creates discomfort.

So I'm going to do an extreme example.

I know, not a very good, not a good person, right? No, we're going to actually switch that belief, right? So in doing so, I was stealing, right? I was stealing.

So I scanned one thing, put the other thing in the bag, and then scanned the other, and then blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.

Now, because of cognitive dissonance, as a result of that, I don't do this anymore, by the way, guys, this was a while ago.

So, but I'm using my, I'm calling myself out.

The person you imagined for all those years, and the stranger who was actually standing there the whole time.

And that cognitive dissonance is staggering when it hits.

I mean, the chasm between the imagined avatar and the biological reality of the person is what we really have to dissect today.

Because it's huge.

Oh, because it ruins the auto-fill masterpiece.

Exactly.

Embracing the crack means the prefrontal cortex has to admit that its predictive model failed, which triggers a massive wave of cognitive dissonance.

Let's explain the mechanics of cognitive dissonance here because the source describes the brain's reaction to these cracks as wrapping itself in a, uh, soft, warm blanket of denial.

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second topic for today is...

Psychologists have something called a cognitive dissonance.

The uncomfortable feeling we experience when new information challenges what we already believe.

Rather than accepting that we may have been mistaken, we become defensive.

it when

you do

it you feel a lot better for yourself yeah you're at ease that you you know you've done the right thing yeah but uh before that yeah there is definitely a little cognitive dissonance going on of course in terms of you thinking oh Should I do it? Should I not? Why should I do it this time? You know, he or she never does it.

So let's, you know, talk about this with somebody who is a PhD researcher.

And, you know, why would I stick around knowing that I was breaking the law? which I knew was, you know, I felt like that's not who I am, and yet I was doing it.

So that's cognitive dissonance.

You know, it doesn't conform with my own conception of who I am, and yet I was doing it.

So number one, I had all of the benefits that it brought.

you

know? But, you know, that's how I addressed it.

You know, there was a payoff, and that's how I addressed, you know, that cognitive dissonance.

Do you think that part of maybe your vulnerability to this type of lifestyle was because your friend found you at a time where you were in transition? No,

And that nobody had taken him seriously.

Now, there's a part of me when I heard that, and, and we, we should talk about cognitive dissonance 'cause my story is riddled with it.

I felt it even then.

I felt it in the dating.

...

they told us they didn't mean that.

And then so we're like, now we're like in this like what is happening? Like the cognitive dissonance, which is like we're conflicting beliefs.

We, we see this person in front of us.