Thel pandemic and recent election processes have been very puzzling for me to process. I struggle to understand how people some of whom I know can possible take the positions that they do. I don’t remember having this frustration in years past. Perfectly cognitively capable and logical people willing to believe really ignorant things. The psychologist in me offers some suggestions regarding how this might happen, but persistence of ignorance over time seemed to make no sense from perspectives on personal bias and resistance to abandon flawed beliefs despite solid evidence top the contrary.
Psychology Today has an abbreviated analysis by two scientists (one I have known for years) who have taken a crack at offering ways to understand and possibly change. The Psych Today article is an abbreviated version of their new book which I own, but admit I have yet to read. I didn’t really find much new in the explanation of causes although the organization would be useful for those who have not been focused on what might explain the unexplainable. The suggestions for how to respond to each issue offer some useful things to try.