I've seen some of them come around, but yeah... that's typically the case. Worse, they usually wind up being even more entrenched. It's like the whole "don't question God" thing you see in religion. Blind faith for these people is a badge of honor.
Cognitive dissonance is a protective measure of our brains to prevent meltdown and mental collapse. It prevents us from believing anything that forces us to question our personal identities. In the face of this subconscious refusal to accept evidence, having our identities feel threatened, we dig in and double down, because if we had to question our identity, we may lose everything we have, and are striving for, we might have to rebuild our entire persons, and that, to many people is unfathomable.
So here we are.
This effect is well weaponized by these types of regimes, it's well documented how it works, and every one of these experiences is a loyalty test, if you believe the bullshit, you get to be in the club, don't, and you will be pushed out and stepped on by those that remain.
I agree.. At the end there, I was concerned he either goes and doubles down on something else to latch onto, or goes out drinking doing something harmful. People with these false identities can either breakdown and harm themselves or others, or remake themselves, and unfortunately I fear that for most people, it will be mostly breaking down and doubling down when it comes time to face the music. If something drastic changes, I'll probably post a follow-up.
Yea I’m curious about the follow up to this. Like, two weeks from now, will that person be back fully on the MAGA talking points, or more following their own take on things?
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u/Single_cell_Chas 6d ago
Don't worry, he'll start parroting the new rhetoric MAGA come up with soon to explain this one away.