Denial of facts as a shield to face life and world issues

Denial is one of the most used psychological strategies that people have as a protection mechanism in their lives. Besides life consequences, there are also wider-scale consequences. Let's start with the basics...

According to Google Bard 'denial' can be defined as:

Refusal to accept something: This is the most common meaning of denial. It can refer to refusing to accept the truth of a situation, or refusing to admit that someone did something wrong. For example, someone might be in denial about a terminal illness, or a politician might deny any wrongdoing in a scandal.

Here we have another common definition:

A psychological defense mechanism: In psychology, denial is a defense mechanism that people use to protect themselves from painful or threatening thoughts or feelings. It involves refusing to acknowledge the reality of a situation, even if the evidence is clear. For example, someone who has lost a loved one might be in denial about their death, or someone who is addicted to drugs might deny that they have a problem.

Why is denial a way out?

Denial is not the best way out, but is an appealing option in high-pressure situations.

As humans we make mistakes and some of them are less impactful than others.

I'll give two examples:

Example 1:

Dipsy Doe is 30 and she works at a lawyer's office. She convinces herself that the "snooze" button was actually the "off" button, and therefore, it wasn't her fault she was late for work.

Is this a high-impact situation? No, it's not...Even dough can be an issue if she keeps on following that routine. Let's move to a different example focused on the main explanation...

Example 2:

Step 1 - Climate Change Denial:

Social Impact: Widespread denial of the scientific consensus on climate change has hampered global efforts to mitigate its effects. Governments and individuals delay implementing necessary policies, leading to a slower transition to sustainable energy sources and increased carbon emissions. This inaction exacerbates the severity of climate change events like extreme weather, rising sea levels, and ecosystem disruption, negatively impacting vulnerable communities and displacing populations.

www.amnesty.org

Step 2 - Climate change protest

Psychological Impact: For individuals, clinging to denial can be a way to avoid the overwhelming anxiety and fear associated with the potential consequences of climate change. It can also lead to a sense of powerlessness and hopelessness, hindering engagement in solutions and adaptation strategies. Moreover, denial can create social divisions and fuel conflicts between those who acknowledge the crisis and those who reject it.

I cannot summarize my whole theory about denial as a big problem that needs to be addressed but what I can tell about this process in communication is that sometimes has to do with censorship and misinformation.

Several factors are involved in this process and certainly, we are not able to guilt a single entity, it's all a net of messages and interactions that due to their complexity can become bigger and bigger so that they can grow unpredictably.

Are you ready for the next chapter?...