Could you tell me about ugh fields you’ve experienced, and about any instances of selective search, fake justification, etc. that you can call to mind?
If a thought with unpleasant implications comes up, I’m tempted to quickly switch to a completely different, more pleasant topic. Usually this happens in the context of putting off some unpleasant task, but I could imagine it also happening if I believed in God or had some other highly cherished belief. I can’t think of any beliefs that I actually feel that strongly about, though.
I do sometimes come up with plausible excuses or fake justifications if I’m doing something that someone might disapprove of, in case they confront me about it. I don’t remember ever doing that for my own benefit. I can’t remember doing a selective search either, but of course it’s possible I do it without being aware of it.
I just thought of another thing that might be relevant- I find moralizing less appealing than seems to be typical.
Also, what modality do you usually think in—words, images, … ?
I’m not sure how to describe it. Sort of like wordless analogies or relations between concepts, usually combined with some words and images. But also sometimes words or images by themselves.
Also, what do you do when you e.g. desire a cookie, but have previously decided to reduce cookie-consumption?
Distract myself by focusing on something else. If my thoughts keep coming back to eating cookies, I might try imagining something disgusting like eating a cookie with maggots in it.
Use it or lose it? Speculation: Keeping your previous beliefs consistent by rationalizing and distracting yourself are both ways to avoid changing your mind or to avoid thinking about unpleasant things. Maybe most people start with both strategies and the one they have success with develops more than the other. If you are really successful at distracting yourself, maybe rationalization skills never really develop to their full irrational potential.
If a thought with unpleasant implications comes up, I’m tempted to quickly switch to a completely different, more pleasant topic. Usually this happens in the context of putting off some unpleasant task, but I could imagine it also happening if I believed in God or had some other highly cherished belief. I can’t think of any beliefs that I actually feel that strongly about, though.
I do sometimes come up with plausible excuses or fake justifications if I’m doing something that someone might disapprove of, in case they confront me about it. I don’t remember ever doing that for my own benefit. I can’t remember doing a selective search either, but of course it’s possible I do it without being aware of it.
I just thought of another thing that might be relevant- I find moralizing less appealing than seems to be typical.
I’m not sure how to describe it. Sort of like wordless analogies or relations between concepts, usually combined with some words and images. But also sometimes words or images by themselves.
Distract myself by focusing on something else. If my thoughts keep coming back to eating cookies, I might try imagining something disgusting like eating a cookie with maggots in it.
Use it or lose it? Speculation:
Keeping your previous beliefs consistent by rationalizing and distracting yourself are both ways to avoid changing your mind or to avoid thinking about unpleasant things. Maybe most people start with both strategies and the one they have success with develops more than the other. If you are really successful at distracting yourself, maybe rationalization skills never really develop to their full irrational potential.