IT'S HARD TO SCORE IF YOU ARE ALWAYS ON DEFENSE

It is truly amazing to watch people, in various situations, react to things that they do not like. Throughout my academic journey in psychology I have been exposed to numerous ideas. Some are reasonable, and some are, to put it in civil terms, ridiculous. I really worry about those who enter this field without a solid Biblical foundation. They are very vulnerable to the many false philosophies that permeate the world of psychology.

As of late, one area that has caused me to intensify my study is the realm of personal defense mechanisms. Most people never give this area much thought in their daily lives, but understanding this set of concepts will open the door to better communication, negotiation, leadership, and getting along better with others in just about every area of life.

I have a favorite quote from Epictetus, a philosopher who was educated in Roman Stoicism under Zeno between (336-264 B.C.). Zeno founded the Stoa Poikile (Painted Porch), the last of the four most famous schools in ancient Athens. It reads: “What disturbs people’s minds is not events, but their judgment of events.”

From this prologue I will proceed to work through some of the personal defense mechanisms people use everyday.

First and probably foremost is:

Selective Exposure

Def = Most people will minimize their exposure to ideas that run contrary to their own beliefs

This minimizes challenges to, or challenges of beliefs. This can even happen in light of new facts emerging about the contrary ideas.

The most common outcome is that selective exposure is very likely to work in an opposite way. Studies, with an emphasis of those associated with brain washing, indicate people who do not have a chance to compare and defend their ideas are most apt to abandon them when they are confronted with an opposing view. The real astounding fact is this happens even when the opposing view is unsound.

However, those who have had an opportunity to test and defend their views are most likely to hold on to them when challenged.

Rather than welcome the chance to confront what they think is an inferior idea, and stimulate deeper thought, they seem to fear such ideas.

Bottom line:

You can often tell how secure a person is in their beliefs by how well they tolerate (not necessarily accept) opposing views. I am in no way endorsing “tolerance” as described by post-modern and relativistic minded people, but I am referring to tolerance being defined as the ability to listen to others expound their position and being prepared to defend my own. If my beliefs are secure and founded on the truth of God’s Word, listening first, and then refuting other views is not a defensive situation, but a chance to share truth with others.

An opportunity often missed by many.


I will end a little different this time with a non-Latin quote:

If you look for truth, you may find comfort in the end; if you look for comfort you will not get either comfort or truth only soft soap and wishful thinking to begin, and in the end, despair.

C. S. Lewis