Pulling The Thread with Elise Loehnen Getting Out of the Self-Justification Trap (Carol Tavris, PhD)
Oct 16, 2025
This engaging discussion features Dr. Carol Tavris, a social psychologist and the co-author of 'Mistakes Were Made (But Not By Me)', diving deep into cognitive dissonance and self-justification. She reveals how good people justify harmful actions to protect their self-image and explains the evolution of dissonance as a tool for social cohesion. Tavris also discusses how social media amplifies polarization and the dangers of venting anger, challenging common beliefs about catharsis. Ultimately, she emphasizes the importance of self-reflection and empathy in understanding ourselves and others.
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Why Dissonance Keeps Us Comfortable
- Cognitive dissonance helps people preserve a coherent, comforting worldview rather than face contradictory evidence.
- That mechanism bonded small tribes and motivated collective action, but now fuels stubborn errors and polarization.
Fear And Social Media Fuel Polarization
- Social media and fear amplify dissonance by letting people find confirmatory communities and demonize outsiders.
- Urban exposure reduces unfamiliarity, while homogeneous rural environments magnify fear of the unknown.
The Pyramid Of Choice Explains Slow Slippage
- The
