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Christian. Skeptic. Ponderer. Sold on Western Civilization. Background in engineering and software. Rational, but not rationalist.
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Look closer. Think harder. Choose the sound argument over the clever one.
Monday, July 12, 2010
How Facts Backfire
A very interesting read, from the Boston Globe: How facts backfire:
“The general idea is that it’s absolutely threatening to admit you’re wrong,” says political scientist Brendan Nyhan, the lead researcher on the Michigan study. The phenomenon — known as “backfire” — is “a natural defense mechanism to avoid that cognitive dissonance.”
Human nature, sadly, is still human nature, whether you call it positive internal efficacy or whatever.
Update: Tom gives it some attention it deserves.
