To continue with the bias theme, how about confirmation bias? They settled on the most available theory that fits all the facts, and then it becomes part of their identity, they begin to rally the soldiers. Is their delusion that they are Jesus really that much less sticky than someone’s political party?
Seems unlikely. First, confirmation bias has its limits and normally is never capable beating direct observational evidence. Second, people basing their identity on their being Jesus sounds like a plausible idea, but identity based on the fact that my arm isn’t paralysed not that much. Third, it takes some time to associate own identity and status feeling with an idea—one doesn’t become political partisan overnight—while the anosognosic delusions emerge immediately after the brain is damaged (well, I suppose this is so, but I can easily be mistaken here).
identity based on the fact that my arm isn’t paralysed not that much
I dunno. During the period after my stroke where I was suffering from partial right-side paralysis, a lot of the emotional suffering I experienced could reasonably be described as caused by having my identity as a person whose arm wasn’t paralyzed challenged. I would probably say “self-image” instead of “identity”, granted, but I’m not sure the difference is crisp.
Interesting. Did thinking about the paralysis feel similar to (learning a good argument against your favourite political ideology / seeing your favourite sports team lose / listening to an offensive but true remark made by your enemy / any situation in which you fell victim to confirmation bias)?
To continue with the bias theme, how about confirmation bias? They settled on the most available theory that fits all the facts, and then it becomes part of their identity, they begin to rally the soldiers. Is their delusion that they are Jesus really that much less sticky than someone’s political party?
Seems unlikely. First, confirmation bias has its limits and normally is never capable beating direct observational evidence. Second, people basing their identity on their being Jesus sounds like a plausible idea, but identity based on the fact that my arm isn’t paralysed not that much. Third, it takes some time to associate own identity and status feeling with an idea—one doesn’t become political partisan overnight—while the anosognosic delusions emerge immediately after the brain is damaged (well, I suppose this is so, but I can easily be mistaken here).
I dunno. During the period after my stroke where I was suffering from partial right-side paralysis, a lot of the emotional suffering I experienced could reasonably be described as caused by having my identity as a person whose arm wasn’t paralyzed challenged. I would probably say “self-image” instead of “identity”, granted, but I’m not sure the difference is crisp.
Interesting. Did thinking about the paralysis feel similar to (learning a good argument against your favourite political ideology / seeing your favourite sports team lose / listening to an offensive but true remark made by your enemy / any situation in which you fell victim to confirmation bias)?
It did not feel especially similar to any of the examples you list.
The general case is harder to think about… I’m not sure.