Really made me think about how this might apply to me, and I’ve already decided to make a few changes based on some of your suggestions (mostly in how I phrase things when describing myself).
As social creatures, I wonder if the effect is stronger when these consistency effects rise up in group situations. Does our brain try harder to stay consistent with an identity that makes us part of a group rather than an “individual” identity?
This certainly could explain a few things about how solid political/tribal/religious identity is, not to mention the most intense kinds of metal-heads, comic book geeks, browncoats, free software evangelists, etc (all types of hardcore fans that build their identity around what they happen to enjoy).
I think this is a great post.
Really made me think about how this might apply to me, and I’ve already decided to make a few changes based on some of your suggestions (mostly in how I phrase things when describing myself).
As social creatures, I wonder if the effect is stronger when these consistency effects rise up in group situations. Does our brain try harder to stay consistent with an identity that makes us part of a group rather than an “individual” identity?
This certainly could explain a few things about how solid political/tribal/religious identity is, not to mention the most intense kinds of metal-heads, comic book geeks, browncoats, free software evangelists, etc (all types of hardcore fans that build their identity around what they happen to enjoy).