Certainty Is Psychologically Seductive |
Certainty is emotionally alluring and intellectually dangerous.
Routinely accepting opinions as facts makes us mentally dull.
We can take steps to reintroduce critical thinking in our lives.
It’s no secret that the United States is divided—politically, economically, culturally. But the question is: Why?
Historically, most Americans felt a great sense of pride in being part of this grand experiment. Sure, there were differences. Divergent opinions—there’s no doubt. Regardless, there was something in the American spirit that seemed to bring us all together (at least on the surface).
Some like to point to COVID-19 as the culprit. Certainly, a worldwide pandemic can bring out the worst in people. Ever think you would hoard toilet paper? Many did!
But can we really single out the greedy behavior that comes to the fore during a seeming life-or-death struggle (even if that “struggle” is real or imagined), as an indicator of a massive cultural shift?
Some kind of weird survival of the fittest behavior, maybe. But driver of a societal divide? I think not.
Others have suggested that the divides were always there and were just simmering under the surface. Probably some truth to that notion. But the country has made tremendous strides, especially in the last century, in creating opportunities for all of its citizens.
Can a deep-rooted sense of the differences between the “haves” and “have-nots” be the catalyst that has led to where we are today—a place where Americans have completely lost their ability to “hear” and understand an opposing point of view? Quite unlikely.
Still others believe that social media is the motivating factor underpinning the situation.
It does enable anyone with access to a........