188 - Why Do People Double Down in the Face of Contrary Evidence?

Oct 11, 2024

This discussion dives into the challenges of cognitive dissonance in gender identity and the emotional stakes for parents of trans-identified children. It reveals how deeply held beliefs can persist despite contradictory evidence. The hosts address the need for open dialogue and trust in navigating these sensitive topics. They emphasize the importance of self-forgiveness and staying flexible in beliefs while fostering understanding over mere evidence. Ultimately, they acknowledge that societal change regarding gender identity is complex and unlikely to resolve quickly.

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Intro

00:00 • 4min

Navigating Family Dynamics in Trans Identity Acceptance

03:44 • 4min

Cognitive Dissonance and Belief Resilience

07:48 • 24min

Building Trust and Communication in Controversial Dialogues

32:12 • 5min

Navigating Beliefs and Gender Identity

37:07 • 13min

Belief, Skepticism, and the Quest for Truth

49:47 • 8min

Navigating Self-constructed Narratives and Reality

57:27 • 4min

This conversation connects cognitive dissonance surrounding gender identity to cultural and institutional dynamics, including developments in gender medicine and resistance to emerging evidence that challenges prevailing medical practices — illustrating how deeply held beliefs become difficult to abandon even in the face of contradictory evidence.

The core idea is that just because something cannot be proven false doesn’t mean we should accept it as true. Stella and Sasha imply that trying to "research a way out" of this issue isn't the answer, as many are emotionally invested in their decisions regarding medicalization, especially parents of trans-identified children.

This episode underscores the value of self-forgiveness and cognitive flexibility, emphasizing the importance of remaining open to re-evaluating one's path and advocating that winning "hearts and minds" is key to changing perspectives rather than relying solely on evidence. While systemic changes and broader public awareness could help shift the conversation, ultimately, the cultural "war" over gender identity will not be resolved easily or quickly, with some people doubling down on their decisions for life.

For links and resources relevant to this episode, access the full show notes at https://www.widerlenspod.com/p/episode-188

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This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.widerlenspod.com/subscribe