RE: https://defcon.social/@corbden/115192479725348539 Ugh, a year on and people are still misusing the term "cognitive dissonance." I guess psychology not being a "hard science" means well-meaning folk think they know what a term means just by hearing it once without looking into the actual mechanisms or theory. It's a really good theory though, and understanding the basics will help you understand both yourself and others. Because yes, it is in fact possible to hold two conflicting beliefs at the same time without feeling dissonance. That's the whole deal! That's how it works. *YOU'RE DOING IT RIGHT THIS SECOND.* In fact, if you look down on someone you think is doing this without realizing that you're doing it too, that is in and of itself a dissonance resolution. "They can't see what's wrong with their mind and that starts to feel uncomfortable because what if.... but no, unlike them, I've got it all figured out! I'm better than them! This feels really good!" Self-awareness of that shit is what will help you align yourself closer to reality. So read below for the broad strokes.