Why Do Good People Become Silent—or Worse—about 9/11? - Part 5: Denial and Cognitive Dissonance

Why Do Good People Become Silent—or Worse—about 9/11? - Part 5: Denial and Cognitive Dissonance:

 Frances Shure, M.A., L.P.C., has performed an in-depth analysis addressing a key issue of our time: “Why Do Good People Become Silent—or Worse—About 9/11?” The resulting essay, to be presented here as a series, is comprised of a synthesis of reports on academic research as well as clinical observations.

In answering the question in the title of this essay, last month’s segment, Part 4, addressed the term “doublethink,” coined by George Orwell. Doublethink is not part of Western psychology’s lexicon, but it is a defensive strategy, nonetheless, by which we hold two conflicting beliefs in our minds at the same time, and use one or the other, depending on the situation–rather like a chameleon switches colors–in order to remain in conformity with the official position..

We continue Ms. Shure’s analysis in Part 5 with the defensive mechanisms of denial and cognitive dissonance.