1. Blake Reno and Kyle Puckett

2. We seek out weak evidence to support our existing beliefs. We ignore evidence that undercuts those beliefs.

3. Barking Moonbat Someone who sacrifices sanity for the sake of consistency A phrase that is most often applied derisively to extreme partisans

4. The notion that others will be affected by exposure to messages while we ourselves are immune Includes Wishful Thinking “In some matters we are unrealistic about how unrealistic we really are.”

5. We are all captives of the “pictures in our heads,” which don’t always conform to the real world. “The way in which the world is imagined determines at any particular moment what men will do.”

6. Our commitment to a cause not only changes our thinking, but also affects what we see—and don’t see—as we observe the world around us. Includes: Confirmation Bias Hostile Media Phenomenon

7. Confirmation Bias The tendency for people to come up with reasons favoring their own side of a controversial issue, while not even considering the other. Hostile Media Phenomenon Detecting more negative than positive references to one’s side and believing that media coverage is likely to sway neutral observers in the opposing direction from one’s side.

8. The more misinformed we are, the more strongly we insist that we’re correct. “This syndrome means that those who most need to revise the pictures in their heads are the very ones least likely to change their thinking. Of such people, it is often said that they are ‘often in error but never in doubt.’”

9. When we are confronted with tough decisions and close calls, we tend to exaggerate the differences between our choices, also known as the Spreading of Alternatives Effect. This natural human tendency makes us feel better about the choices we have made, even at the expense of accuracy or consistency.

10. Occurs when deeply held beliefs are challenged by conflicting evidence. When our beliefs are challenged, rather than abandon these beliefs, we adopt an explanation that is compatible with what we already believe.

11. Other Examples…  UFO Cult Infiltration UFO Cult Infiltration  Truthout.org debacle Truthout.org debacle  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOGeG UG8GWk http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOGeG UG8GWk  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPLa3C YcXEo stop at 45 sec. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPLa3C YcXEo  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbt4nF5Sl pQ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbt4nF5Sl pQ

12. Application to 1984  In 1984, the people are made to believe certain things because Big Brother has become infallible.  Because of this, Big Brother can tell the public anything it wants to, without the need for evidence, and the public will believe it because they “know” Big Brother is always right.

13. Connection to Language Awareness  Cognitive dissonance is mentioned in the articles we have read in Language Awareness, including Big Brother is Watching You.