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114

Why is it so hard for people to concede even small points when discussing charged topics? (feddit.uk)

submitted 1 day ago by Opinionhaver@feddit.uk to c/asklemmy@lemmy.world

55 comments fedilink hide all child comments

I've been thinking lately about why, in debates (usually) about highly emotional topics, so many people seem unable to acknowledge even minor wrongdoings or mistakes from "their" side, even when doing so wouldn't necessarily undermine their broader position.

I'm not here to rehash any particular political event or take sides - I'm more interested in the psychological mechanisms behind this behavior.

For example, it feels like many people bind their identity to a cause so tightly that admitting any fault feels like a betrayal of the whole. I've also noticed that criticism toward one side is often immediately interpreted as support for the "other" side, leading to tribal reactions rather than nuanced thinking.

I'd love to hear thoughts on the psychological underpinnings of this. Why do you think it's so hard for people to "give an inch" even when it wouldn't really cost them anything in principle?

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[–] boreengreen@lemm.ee 3 points 21 hours ago* (last edited 21 hours ago)

Probably cause kids ridicule you hard if you are wrong or stand out. When you grow up, you might learn to have your own opinions, but you might never unlearn the various defens mechanisms and feelings of ridicule that developed as a result of kids around you scrutinizing you and your opinions.

They don't want to hear it cause it is uncomfortable. And they feel like they are loosing respect and getting attacked. They rather sweep it under the rug and forget about it, sometimes not learning from it at all. Humans are also lazy.

Being wrong gracefully is a learnt skill.