The backfire effect

I really love this analogy by The Oatmeal regarding what our worldview (sometimes undeniably AKA self-righteousness) makes of us when challenged.

backfire-effect-of-core-beliefs-the-oatmeal
theoatmeal.com

Your brain loves consistency. It builds a worldview like we build a house. It has a foundation and a frame, and windows and doors, and it knows exactly how everything fits together.

If a new piece is introduced and it doesn’t fit, the whole house falls apart. Your brain protects you by rejecting that piece. It then builds a fence and a moat, and refuses to let in any visitors.

This is why we have the backfire effect. It’s a biological way of protecting a worldview.